Global News – Decision 2008 – News

Dion heads to his HQ

Hannah Thibedeau — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:55:00 GMT

Stephane Dion did a last-ditch cross-country tour yesterday. He made his way back from Vancouver to Montreal just hours before results came in.

Before we left for Montreal, Dion and Mme Kreiber had their pictures taken with the flight crew. On board, Dion and his campaign team appeared to be in good moods, joking around and giving speeches.

This is election headquarters ... and there isn't a heck of a lot of space for supporters.

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Brampton's big rally

Hannah Thibedeau — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:47:00 GMT

They are estimating about 1,400 people so far at the Liberal rally in Brampton. This is the biggest rally yet for Dion.

The room is filled and spills wayyy out into the hallway.

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Dion's daughter

Hannah Thibedeau — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:21:00 GMT

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's 20-year-old daughter Jeanne (pictured here with dark hair wearing a striped shirt) has joined her dad for the last few days of the campaign. But she won't be there all day on election day ... heading off to take an exam in 20th century American history.

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Enter the heavy hitters

Hannah Thibedeau — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:01:00 GMT

Stephane Dion has brought out the Liberal big guns to help him out in these final days on the hustings.

Tomorrow it will be an appearance by former Prime Minister Jean Chretien. The Liberal campaign will be in vote-rich Ontario and Chretien will introduce Dion at a rally in Brampton.

Yesterday, former Prime Minister Paul Martin introduced Dion at the Economic Club and Canadian Club in Toronto.

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Full house

Hannah Thibedeau — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:31:00 GMT

The room at the Liberal rally in Laval, Quebec quickly filled up and they had to open up another room.

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Rockin' the vote

Hannah Thibedeau — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:51:00 GMT

Tragically Hip lead guitarist Rob Baker is back. Now he's travelling on the plane as a part of the Dion entourage.

As the Globe and Mail's Jane Taber writes, Bono is now a not (former Paul Martin pitch man) ... Rob is a hot!!

Maybe he is Dion's rockin' strategist?

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Warming up Liberal supporters

Hannah Thibedeau — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:42:00 GMT

The Liberals brought out the bongos and sang "Bring the Party Back" to warm up the crowd before Stephane Dion arrived.

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Stephane's biggest fan?

Hannah Thibedeau — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:23:00 GMT

Local Colwood resident Wendy Perry made up bumper stickers and t-shirts with the slogan I Am CanaDion. She is a huge fan:

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Sky-high birthday celebration

Hannah Thibedeau — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:42:00 GMT

Stephane Dion gets a birthday cake from the airline crew:

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A warning about that guy Steve

Hannah Thibedeau — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:57:00 GMT

At a Liberal women's event in Toronto on Sunday they handed out these bumper stickers.

It's a picture of Stephen Harper with the words, "He's just not that into you."

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Dion's early birthday gift -- courtesy the media

Hannah Thibedeau — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:55:00 GMT

Tomorrow (Sunday) is Stephane Dion's 53rd birthday and he's made a last-minute decision to spend it Toronto campaigning.

But on the flight back to Ottawa Saturday afternoon, the press corps travelling with him pitched in to buy him a gift. It's a puffin painted by Paule St. Laurent -- Louis St. Laurent's granddaughter.

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The littlest Grit

Hannah Thibedeau — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:56:00 GMT

The liberals are signing them up young:

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Dion in the Forest City

Hannah Thibedeau — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:51:00 GMT

A crowd of about 400 showed up for a Liberal rally in London, Ont.

One of Dion's bigger crowds in Ontario.

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Numbers war

Hannah Thibedeau — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:03:00 GMT

The two main parties are battling a back-room war of numbers … and it’s an interesting fight.

The Conservative war room was first to strike, sending out a press release saying the Liberal platform had mentioned the word “Quebec” only four times. Insinuating the Liberals were ignoring Quebec?

The Liberals quickly countered that release by doing some counting of their own. Their war room pulled out the 2006 Conservative election platform (because the Tories have yet to release their 2008 platform).

The Liberals added up the word “Quebec” in the 2006 Tory platform … and it totalled four times. Hmmmmm?

The Liberals then went on to count other mentions in 2006 Tory campaign literature.

Number of mentions of the words:

climate change: 0
poverty: 0

They then went on to count words in the 2008 budget speech by Jim Flaherty:

quebec: 0
culture: 0
equality: 0

It seems the Liberals win the Count Dracula award in this case.

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Dion wades in

Hannah Thibedeau — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:14:00 GMT

Stephane Dion took unscripted questions at the University of British Columbia for 45 minutes ... and after that waded into the crowd and answered more.

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Stephane's reality zinger

Hannah Thibedeau — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:25:00 GMT

Dion visited the North Shore Film Studios in B.C. The film being shot at the time is called Harper's Island.

When Dion was asked about the film he said,"It's probably a scary movie and Harper should be kicked off the island."

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Dion pancake breakfast in Saint John (from Thursday)

Hannah Thibedeau — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:35:00 GMT

Again ... another rally ... and again ... only one picture or sign of the leader.

I asked the cab driver on the way over what he thought of their local candidate, Paul Zed ... he said the locals love him. I then asked what people thought of Dion. He says "If people know about him ... he isn't well liked because he is portrayed badly."

Maybe local candidates aren't putting up Stephane Dion signs because they worry about what his image may do to their campaign?

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Dion too Hip to be square

Hannah Thibedeau — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:20:00 GMT

Tragically Hip Lead guitarist Rob Baker turned out to support Stephane Dion at a rally in Napanee. He says the Liberal theme song should be "Ahead by a Century."

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Dion on the hustings (Sept. 8)

Hannah Thibedeau — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:14:00 GMT

I have a bright idea

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First Dion rally (from Sept. 7)

Hannah Thibedeau — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:57:00 GMT

First Dion rally ... take a close look at the signs ... not one with Stephane Dion's name on it.

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