Election roundup

Both Paul Wells and Andrew Coyne comment on the recent poll showing an 11 point lead for the conservatives, who are also ahead of the Liberals in Quebec. And Harper is more popular than Martin. In Quebec.

Even the Toronto Star has turned against the Liberals :

What's wrong with a Liberal campaign now free-falling toward a jolting landing is what's wrong with Paul Martin as prime minister. Contradictory, inconsistent and still searching for a focus, this Liberal tour and Martin's leadership reflect the dangers of power exercised without discipline.

In other news, there is a BC Conservative candidate headed to trial for smuggling. You think that might come up in the vetting process, no? Anyway, the Tories are sticking by him.

Both the Libs and NDP officially released their full platform yesterday; Conservatives were going to and then thought better of it.

Oh, and I guess the Conservatives have said they would undo the income tax reduction the Libs announced in November. I know I said they wouldn't but I was wrong. And that's a dumb policy by the way.

Finally, this is the best quote I've seen in relation to the ad the Libs released and then pulled:

I know! Let's imply Harper would impose martial law! No -- let's make the soldiers the bad guys, even as they're being shot at in Afghanistan! I've got it! Let's do both!

Update: This is even better:

New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton ridiculed Liberal scare tactics saying Martin is resorting to "threats" and "manipulations" in debates and TV ads.Martin "has nothing left to say to Canadians other than to tell them that unless they vote Liberal, the sun will not rise, spring will not come, and volcanoes will destroy the Earth" if Liberals aren't re-elected, Layton said in his written speech. "I don't think that's going to work this time Paul."