Rachel Notley videos reveal why her NDP campaign has caught fire in Alberta

    1 of 2 2 of 2

      Whenever a political party sees a sharp rise in popularity in an election campaign, I like checking out its advertisements and videos.

      Voters don't like to admit that they're influenced by marketing, but it's become a central component of modern politics.

      The video above gives a good indication why NDP Leader Rachel Notley could become the next premier of Alberta.

      Set to the song "Waking Up My Heart", it's reminiscent of those optimistic NDP videos featuring Jack Layton in the 2011 campaign.

      Notley, a labour lawyer and former Vancouver resident, is surrounded by supporters, always looking cheerful, and receiving ringing endorsements from young and diverse Albertans. Yes folks, there is a personality cult around the charismatic NDP leader.

      Inserted into the video are plenty of images of Notley consulting with seniors, who are an important voting bloc.

      The crowning moment comes with Notley in front of two guys wearing hardhats. It's reminiscent of B.C. premier Christy Clark's preference for hard hats during the 2013 election.

      "Rachel Notley supports businesses like mine and Progressive Conservatives aren't helping us at all," one of the guys says.

      No wonder Premier Jim Prentice is running scared.

      Voters go to the polls on Tuesday (May 5). 

      Comments

      10 Comments

      ursa minor

      May 1, 2015 at 4:19pm

      "Yes folks, there is a personality cult around the charismatic NDP leader."

      Just like Grant Notley.

      0 0Rating: 0

      Warren Walker

      May 1, 2015 at 5:12pm

      I'm really quick to criticise the NDP. But with a win in Alberta I KNOW I'll be proud to say I support the NDP federally.

      Go, Rachel, go!!

      0 0Rating: 0

      One small problem

      May 2, 2015 at 9:55am

      You only need to look at another western NDP campaign that seemed very hopeful to know that fortunes can change on a dime. As with the Dix campaign you have a primarily young base of people who will gladly participate in a poll, but will then skip the voting booth so they can go to their yoga class. Notley obviously knows this and is putting effort into the older crowd who not only vote, but tend to vote conservative. I'd automatically deduct 10% from the NDP portion of any poll, to be on the safe side.

      0 0Rating: 0

      Neo Cons Rigid Ideaology and Corporate Welfare

      May 2, 2015 at 11:39am

      Good!

      The only thing the Neo-Conservatives of all stripes Provincial and Federal, like Prentice and the band of Corporate Welfare stooges have demonstrated is a long term structural deficit.

      Taking from the working class and average citizens than giving to large Corporations in Tar Sands, Water and Manufacturing etc.

      As of late 2014 Communist China has more rights over all of Canada's natural resources than any Canadian via the China "Free" Trade deal courtesy of the Neo Conservatives.

      With both the structural deficits and massive loss of jobs not only in the Tar Sands but in manufacturing in Ontario and generally in Canada people are waking up to the rigid Corporate welfare ideology of the Conservatives.

      Time for change, anything but Cons.

      0 0Rating: 0

      Serena Renner, Former Executive Director of Nova Scotia NDP

      May 2, 2015 at 11:48am

      I had the opportunity to know and work with Rachel Notley's father, Grant Notley, he would be so proud of his Daughter's accomplishments. If I was younger and phycical able I would go to Alberta and work for Rachel and the Alberta NDP. You are doing a great job and New Democrats across Canada are cheering for you.
      Go get them!!

      0 0Rating: 0

      HellSlayerAndy

      May 3, 2015 at 11:20am

      One small problem said
      You only need to look at another western NDP campaign that seemed very hopeful to know that fortunes can change on a dime.

      Good point about poll manipulation and why anyone claiming to a political expert is even bothering to publish them.

      But why go to BC? Try the last AB election when the polls put the Wildrose in landslide position and all the NDPers voted PC to keep them out.
      Perhaps coalition partner? with...?
      More likely a coalition of PC and Wildrose on account the Wildrose is already in a coalition with the PCs, so to speak...which maybe be the real reason why they defected in the first place....stave off vote splitting.

      0 0Rating: 0

      Bruce

      May 3, 2015 at 11:32am

      So after the election, can we expect an NDP internal "study" to be leaked that explains that they lost because they didn't lean far enough to the right on resource sector issues? I'm guessing the usual suspects already have a draft sketched up.

      0 0Rating: 0

      out at night

      May 3, 2015 at 3:28pm

      Hoping, praying, fingers and toes crossed, breath held, etc.

      0 0Rating: 0

      Maureen Ebel

      May 4, 2015 at 8:39am

      Rachel may have spent some time in Vancouver but she was born and raised in Alberta. Her father Grant Notley, began the NDP here and is on the ten greatest Albertans ever list. He was killed tragically in a plane crash in the early 1980's or we may have had a NDP premier much earlier.

      0 0Rating: 0

      One small problem

      May 4, 2015 at 1:19pm

      HellSlayerAndy:

      The reason I picked the last election in BC as my example is that it's very close to the same situation in Alberta, where you have the NDP looking good in the polls. In BC the Liberals did their homework and realized that some of the support would evaporate because the NDP had the youth vote - as left wing governments usually do - and many of them would fail to show up at the polls. I just wanted to point out that the NDP should be looking at this scenario carefully, and I think they are since they are spending more time with older voters, who would not necessarily be part of their base, but will most likely vote.

      0 0Rating: 0