Analysis: Lethal mix of attack ads, fractious party culture helped bring down Bob Rae
When the dust settles, the beleaguered federal Liberals may soon realize that Conservative attack ads have helped to fell a third, consecutive leader.
In the case of Bob Rae, the interim leader who announced an abrupt end to his permanent leadership ambitions on Wednesday, it was a lethal mix of Conservative attacks and the Liberals’ own, fractious party culture.
Earlier this year, the ruling Conservatives unleashed a wave of anti-Rae advertisements, mocking his record as Ontario premier from 1990 to 1995.
On the surface, it was an odd strategic play, given that Rae was only interim leader, the Liberals remained stuck at third place in the polls and the attacks focused on politics of two decades ago.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1211051--analysis-lethal-mix-of-attack-ads-fractious-party-culture-helped-bring-down-bob-rae?bn=1
