Stephen Harper: On His Way Out?

Canadian Conservative Party Insiders are becoming increasingly unhappy with the leadership of Stephen Harper and members are questioning whether he can lead the party successfully forward in the next election:

Political knives are out for Stephen Harper as his federal Conservatives sink deeper in the polls, and the sharpest weapons are being brandished by members of his own party.

“There is a lot of discontent with the turn of things. People are saying it’s time to replace the leader,” said one key Conservative organizer in Toronto who, like many others, asked not to be named because it could hurt his status in the party.

Just a few months ago, Mr. Harper won the support of 84 per cent of party members at a policy convention. Although a recent poll puts the Conservatives eight percentage points behind the Liberals and suggests that six in 10 Canadians have a negative view of Mr. Harper, he can be unseated only if he decides to step aside.

Without a doubt the Stronach affair and the out-manuvering of Prime Minister Paul Martin and the Liberal Party have hurt Harper.

It was almost certain a few weeks ago that the Liberal Party would not survive a no-confidence vote.

So, was it Harper’s fault? or lack of leadership?

But, behind the scenes, party members from coast to coast are pointing fingers and asking why opinion surveys have the Tories battling for third place nationally when the Gomery inquiry into the sponsorship scandal should still be tarring the Liberals with the stigma of corruption.

Dissatisfaction with Mr. Harper’s leadership “started expanding with the Belinda [Stronach] defection and then it continued to expand when we didn’t get our [confidence] vote passed [on May 19] and a lot of people in the party are tired of waiting,” said one organizer, who also asked to remain anonymous.

“This guy was supposed to be the answer, and, instead of being 20 points up in the polls which should be happening with the way things are in the Liberal Party, he’s eight points down in the polls. Like, what the hell?”

Anonymous back stabbing by other politicians is always good gossip.

And the rumours abound regarding new leadership:

As party members grumble about their leader’s performance, rumours also abound about campaigns to replace him.

One of the more widely circulated stories appeared yesterday on the Bourque website – a website that Canadian politicians and political junkies pay much attention to. It said that Jim Flaherty, the former Ontario provincial cabinet minister and leadership contender, met with other Conservatives at the posh home of retail heiress Nicky Eaton to discuss his chances. Mr. Flaherty said yesterday he was both “flabbergasted” by the story and unaware of such a meeting.

Tony Clement, who ran against Mr. Harper for the party’s leadership, was also said to have attended the meeting. He said yesterday he has been to many soirées at the home of Ms. Eaton but has never discussed Mr. Flaherty’s leadership aspirations. “A meeting to discuss Jim Flaherty running for federal leader?” Mr. Clement said. “I’ve never been involved in any of those discussions in my life.”

Another rumour had Peter MacKay, the deputy party leader, meeting in Toronto last weekend to test the waters for himself.

But, (Butt- Monkey here)the question is: would the Conservative Party be better served by another leader?

Sounds like a no-confidence caucus vote is in order.

Captain Ed over at Captain’s Quarters has this:

But as I noted yesterday, even with these opportunities to push for new elections, the polling numbers have the Tories stymied. At the moment, the main problem with getting Canadians to support the Conservatives looks to be Harper himself. If Harper wants to retain his leadership position, he needs to get out and start doing some high-profile interviews, hit the stumps, and start really campaigning to make Canada feel comfortable with a Harper prime ministry. That might go quite a ways in dampening internal Tory dissatisfaction with the missed oppportunity in May.