Why hasn't the right-wing populist wave taken off in BC?

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by Docere

He wasn't subtle at all. His born-again views were central to the campaign and helped sink the Alliance from breaking through in Ontario.

He wasn't like that in BC he must have known most of us aren't into that. I think of him of that water skiing or sea too guy lol.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by Denscity

He wasn't like that in BC he must have known most of us aren't into that. I think of him of that water skiing or sea too guy lol.

This is true. By the time ol’ Stock was jetskiing into the beach at Westbank he was actively trying to change people’s perceptions of him. Not saying he wasn’t still a strong religious zealot but he was definitely making an effort to brand himself differently

Westbank is also a pretty affluent riding in the interior. His support may have had as much to do with that (or more) as his religious beliefs

[Docere]

But he didn't win just his own seat for the Alliance - they got 49% of the vote across BC!

[240glt]

Originally Posted by Docere

But he didn't win just his own seat for the Alliance - they got 49% of the vote across BC!

Well that was 18 years ago in a vastly different political climate. Chretien managed to alienate the west completely by that time, and the Liberals were basically the Ontario party.

[Docere]

That, and Harper got rid of a lot of the "populist" elements of Reform (triple E Senate, more referenda and the like).