Calgary abuzz after Nenshi's come-from-behind win

[CHIMO]

Mr. Nenshi, 38, won after capturing broad support in Calgary, including a large number of youth. He beat alderman Ric McIver, who was the safe bet to win, and former CTV anchor Barb Higgins.

Watching the returns of Mr. McIver closely were Stephen Harper’s Conservatives. The party’s veteran campaign duo of Sam Armstrong and Devin Iversen led Mr. McIver’s push. Along with Rob Anders, they’re credited as being experts in “deep mining” polling – identifying a conservative base, finding wedge issues, and driving those people to the polls. Mr. Harper congratulated Mr. Nenshi Tuesday morning, but his party's tried-and-tested approach was simply washed away by the broad coalition mobilized by Mr. Nenshi, who nevertheless congratulated his two rivals.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/calgary-abuzz-after-nenshis-come-from-behind-win/article1763522/

[Lucy Goosey]

1. I wasn't following this race closely, and I didn't see this coming...

...but it seems like great news! Defeating the HarperCon candidate in Calgary of all places can't be a bad thing, eh?

Does anyone know if he has any ties to any of the national or provincial parties?

[CHIMO]

3. I Don't Know

But this piece seems to indicate that it definitely isn't the Conservatives.

Tories congratulate mayor of ‘young, diverse and dynamic’ Calgary

Mr. Richardson told The Globe that Mr. Nenshi ran a “remarkable campaign.” He was helped by supporters of previous Joe Clark campaigns, including a former Clark campaign manager. (The former prime minister represented Calgary Centre from 2001 to 2004.)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tories-congratulate-mayor-of-young-diverse-and-dynamic-calgary/article1763548/

[Spazito]

2. I have to admit I was surprised, very happy but suprised...

it seems I am going to have to re-think my perspective of Calgary as Reform party central. When I first heard of Mr. Nenshi's run for Mayor, I thought it was great but that he would have no chance. Boy was I wrong and very happy to be so.

Edited to add: There certainly might be a lesson to be learned here as Mr. Nenshi fully untilized twitter, facebook, and other technological tools to get his message out instead of relying on the traditional media.

[BolivarianHero]

12. So did the guy who upset the incumbent in my ward here in Ottawa...

A bit of a shame in this instance, as the parks have gotten better since moved here 2 years ago and there's lots of infrastructure changes down the pipes. So I figured going with the incumbent would be the best choice, and he narrowly lost because the challenger won HUGE in his neighbourhood.

[iverglas]

4. Can we hope it bodes well for Ontario municipal elections? ;)

Rob Ford ... Larry O'Brien ......

[Lucy Goosey]

5. O'Brien is 28 points down, as of a couple of days ago...

...so Ottawa is looking good, relatively speaking. (I'm not a giant Watson fan, but I'm voting for him, because he's viable and he's just so much better than Larry.)

Toronto is going to be a nail biter, though.

[iverglas]

6. yeah, the crook seems to be dead

In both Toronto and Ottawa, if only the effective choice weren't between right and righter. Political axis speaking, of course. ;)

Being old enough to remember the good old days -- Jane Bigelow in London (I can't believe I remembered the name), Marion Dewar in Ottawa -- sometimes one wishes for early-onset dementia.

[CHIMO]

7. That

I don't know. But the voter turnout jumped to 50% from the 33% in the last election.

From the drift of the article, it seems to me that it came from youth and minority groups that might not have taken part in previous elections.

Don't think the same situation exists in TO.

Seems to me from afar, that it will have to be anybody but Ford for him to loose.

[iverglas]

9. indulge me

That was just a little magical thinking there. ;)

The idea that people would vote for a Rob Ford ... it really does boggle the mind and turn the stomach.

What is it about municipal elections, that the same people as vote in other elections seem to lose 20 IQ points when they turn up at the polling station? They're all going to cut property taxes. Yes they are. And life will be just wonderful if they actually happen to do it, not that they will. How could you not believe that, eh??

[CHIMO]

10. Sorry

I don't have any chocolates.

But if you could amplify your question I might be able to try.

[shockedcanadian]

8. Didn't the Calgary Sun openly support this candidate?

[Posteritatis]

11. The wailing and gnashing of teeth on CBC article comments about this is wonderful. (nt)