No big winners or losers in curious Conservative leadership debate, say strategists

Several candidates had 'their sights set on trying to blunt Pierre Poilievre’s momentum,' while also trying to 'shore up more moderate support for themselves,' say Conservative strategists.

Conservative leadership candidates Pierre Poilievre, clockwise from top left, Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, Roman Baber, Scott Aitchison, and Leslyn Lewis appeared together on stage for the first time in the leadership race at the first official English-language debate held on May 11 in Edmonton. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Jake Wright and Sam Garcia

News

BY IAN CAMPBELL

May 12, 2022

During Wednesday’s first official Conservative leadership debate, several candidates had "their sights set on trying to blunt Pierre Poilievre’s momentum," despite a “boring” format that was designed to be "controlled" and "civilized," said longtime Conservative strategist Tim Powers. The s...

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