Eh, Canada: Shh, It's Elizabeth May's Kamloops Pajama Party
What does the leader of Canada's Green Party have to do to get a little attention in this election?
If you're Canadian Green Party leader Elizabeth May, there's an obvious answer: Forgo a campaign jet and ride a commuter train across the country. The vast, wide country with lots of lonely space between its coasts…
Kamloops at 3 a.m. is a cold and desolate place, unless you happened to be at the city's north-end train station today.
A group of 30 Green Party supporters, some in their night robes, huddled on the platform until one shouted, "She's awake," and a cheer went up. Green Party leader Elizabeth May stepped off her cross-country train for an unusual campaign stop….
Jennifer Larson, 30, showed up in a red night robe, and with other similarly dressed friends, did her best to turn the rally into a pyjama party. "It's important that we're here," she said. "It's about our future."
At one point during the 20 minute stop, May urged supporters to keep their cheers down so as not to wake passengers in VIA Rail's cross-country train, The Canadian.
Okay, this whistlestop tour is sort of heartwarming in theory, but are silent 3 a.m. rallies really the most effective way to get your message out? To, say, people who aren't half-asleep?
I know Elizabeth May scorns her party's favorite weed, but she must've been smoking something when she came up with this one.
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Commuter train?
Are you serious?
She's on a grand passenger train that goes from coast to coast in the second-largest country in the world.
I assume this is an American blog, so think Amtrak.
As for attention, her train journey is indeed gaining far more attention than if she dropped into town on a slow weekday.
Our paper was there at 2 a.m., waiting. The editor (me) and a photographer. There were four other local media outlets represented, not to mention the plethora of national media who spilled off then train with May.
And the coverage has been substantial.
May told our paper she expects to elect 12 MPs.
I'm betting the Greens elect zero, but not for lack of trying. They can blame strategic voting in the aftermath of the election.
But her campaign trip has already been a publicity coup.
"Commuter train?" Travelling by rail across Canada's vastness (about 4000 miles from Vancouver to Halifax) is something people only do for tourism or masochism, I'm afraid. Some commute by train in southern Ontario and Quebec, but not the route Ms May is on.
Her campaign draws attention to the lack of emphasis we put on rail travel.
I never thought I'd criticize May's apparent stance on marijuana. She didn't inhale. She didn't exhale. Everyone can choose. She's totally playing to the weed right-wing base.