And the race is on! The Conservatives jump out to a good start, but it's only the beginning. Early polls can't predict how many of the typically "apathetic" voters will see enough cause to vote within 5 weeks. Mobilisation efforts have proven early polls wrong in the past, and may do so (hopefully) again.

Another blessing in disguise that may come out of these early polls is the incentive it may lend to the left wing to consolidate its votes. Websites like http://www.voteforclimate.ca/ are spreading the word on how to vote strategically in order to oust the Conservatives. That would mean some stubborn NDP folk like me would have to compromise our integrity and vote for the lesser of two evils (I'm in the contested riding of Vancouver-Quadra, won in the last by-election by the Liberals by only 150 votes, but both the NDP and Greens had a good showing). For me it's a tough choice, but at the end of the day, the Liberals at least have a Green Plan (carbon tax) , while the Conservatives have only a War Plan. The choice is easy, the voting part will be difficult.