This sort of narrowcasting media relations strategy may have worked in an internal party race, especially one where hatred of the “mainstream media” is practically an article of faith. But as the byelection blowout shows, it’s far less effective when you have to contend with non-conservative voters and the media outlets they rely upon.
The big question now is whether he and his team are capable of learning the lessons they were just taught. It will be tempting for them to blame the mainstream media, attack the subsidies those outlets receive from government and suggest the solution lies in defunding news organizations and the CBC.
Pierre Poilievre's candidate in the Mississauga-Lakeshore riding got shellacked by Liberal Charles Sousa, causing the #CPC leader's social feeds to go uncharacteristically quiet. @maxfawcett writes for @NatObserver #opinion #cdnpoli
maxfawcett NatObserver Right wing politics is toxic. Poilievre’s appeased the truck convoy, social conservative crowd and they will keep him on a short leash.