Conservative Prospects In Quebec

TRAIL HEAD: Prime Minister Stephen Harper and wife Laureen pause before the start of a rally in Quebec City yesterday. Harper called an election for Oct. 14 after 21/2 years leading a minority Conservative government. Photograph by : CHRIS WATTIE, REUTERS

Our Hearts, Minds Key To Majority -- The Montreal Gazette

Harper must ride riptides of provincial politics to wrest seats from Bloc

He has run in five election campaigns as a member of Parliament, in two leadership campaigns, and has led his party through two general elections.

However, the battle Stephen Harper is about to fight for the hearts and minds of Quebecers will probably be like no battle he has fought before. For the Conservatives, Quebec could very well hold the key to a majority government.

While he has never lived in Quebec, Harper has learned a lot about its politics since becoming Conservative leader. His French has improved and he has learned to pay lip service to symbols that matter to Quebecers, like beginning press conferences in French or making Quebec City his first campaign stop.

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