The local NDP have been trying to convince Liberal voters that the only way to "defeat Harper" is to vote for Mr. Derrick in the Cariboo-Prince George riding (as evidenced by the letters to the editor in Thursday Citizen, 'Readers push strategic voting vs. Harper').
May I point out the huge flaw in this logic?
Justin Trudeau has brought the Liberals within striking distance of a majority government and according to the latest polls will be the next prime minister (37.1 per cent in the Nanos Research poll released Oct. 15).
If the goal is truly to "defeat Harper" then the local NDP should be voting for Tracy Calogheros in Cariboo-Prince George as Mr. Mulcair and the federal NDP have dropped to third place (23.7 per cent) and won't even maintain official opposition status.
A vote for Trent Derrick will in fact leave Cariboo-Prince George without representation in government and will not help in any way to "defeat Harper."
The NDP need to stop quoting polls from before the Orange Crash and recognize that if their goal is truly to change government they must vote for the Liberals, especially in Cariboo-Prince George.
Conservative voters in the riding are now realizing that Todd Doherty cannot win and they will begin strategically shifting their votes to Tracy so as to keep the NDP from taking the riding.
Although I believe that it is always best to vote based on the local candidate, party leader and party platform, if strategic voting is your goal then a vote for the Liberals and Tracy Calogheros is the only vote that will result in change and strong local representation in our next federal parliament.
John Mangan
Prince George
