Sitting for a taped interview with Steve Murphy, the anchor for CTV Halifax, Mr. Dion had been asked: “If you were prime minister now, what would you have done about the economy and this crisis that Mr. Harper hasn't done?”
“If I had been prime minister two-and-a-half years ago?” Mr. Dion replied.
“If you were the prime minister right now,” Mr. Murphy explained.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081009.welxndionatv1009/BNStory/politics-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why didn't Murphy just say "yes" after Dion's question. It does look like a poorly phrased question, meant to trip up someone whose mother tongue isn't English (tenses are notoriously difficult in second languages).
I think Harper just threw in the towel in Quebec on this one. It won't go over well with French Quebecers. He not only won't get a Quebec breakthrough, but he will probably lose seats there.
It may help in some parts of Ontario, but I think the effect will be short-lived - a nightly poll or two.