PHOTO: Party leaders are going to be fighting for their political lives at tonight's debate, just like Little Mac (a.k.a. Mackenzie Weaver) taking on big, bad Mike Tyson in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (the name of which was changed after Tyson became a criminal, though the makers of the game did not take out the criminal grammar of double exclamation points). Mike Tyson, in case you're wondering, represents the doubts the voters have about the leadership abilities of the leaders. Just like in the video game, it is extremely difficult to land a punch on "Iron" Mike Tyson, let alone knock him out.
Tune in to my blog later tonight for a Mississauga News first: live-blogging.
As I watch the debates I will be posting well-crafted points and counter-arguments, and just generally being flippant about the whole circus.
This debate, I think, will be important. I get the feeling voters are sitting around waiting for the leaders to do something. There is a stagnant feel to the campaign. We need a good fight, or something new to talk about. Everyone's so bored of thinking about funding faith-based education they're willing to hear anything else. How about funding faith-based hospitals? Or banning gasoline? Just give us something new to talk about.
In case you missed the latest Ipsos-Reid poll, it's saying the Liberals are at 40 percent, the PCs are at 37 percent, the NDP is at 16 percent, and the Greens have 6 percent.
When it comes to the seat count in the legislature, those numbers translate into a small minority for the Liberals.
The leaders aren't offering anything that's moving voters yet. I thought McGuinty's new holiday would do it, but the announcement didn't have legs. Maybe if he offers a case of beer for every Ontarian of drinking age on that long weekend, maybe then the promise will stick around, and give him the bump necessary to cement a majority.
It is a strategy Little Mac's trainer Doc Louis would approve of; as Doc often told Little Mac between rounds, "Listen Mac! Dodge his punch then counter punch!"
As for John Tory, Doc Louis might not have much advice for him. Instead, he'd offer his regular assessment of Little Mac's ring skills: "Dancing like a fly, bite like a mosquito." Though, apparently, you can knock out Mike Tyson with enough mosquito bites properly timed.
Anyway, I'm expecting a call from Mississauga South candidate Charles Sousa any minute now, then I'm on my way home to set up for the debates.
You can either read my brilliant analysis at the time, or you can just catch up on it tomorrow.