OAKVILLE, ONT.–American political activist Morton Blackwell once said, “In politics, nothing moves unless it's pushed.” In other words, if a political campaign is going to gather momentum, if it’s going to gain sustained and consistent traction with voters, it requires energy. Lots of it. And what usually provides that energy is human emotion, both positive and negative.
But what about Trudeau? Will he really be the guy wearing the white hat of positivity? Don’t count on it. True, the prime minister may want to tap into positive energy, presenting himself as the forward-looking and hopeful alternative to populism, if only because that more truly reflects his own persona, but I’ve long believed Trudeau will ultimately be forced to match Poilievre’s negative energy with his own negative energy.