With the polling day less than a week away in Crewe and Nantwich the Dunwoody campaign is locked into a strategy that looks certain to drive voters away (and if the polls are to be believed, a strategy that will drive them into the arms of the conservatives).
What’s most interesting about Labour’s campaign though is the decision to define the candidate in terms of what she isn’t (a ‘toff’) rather than what she is (except to the extent the campaign plays up the Dunwoody brand). It’s interesting of course because it comes at a time when Labour is bleeding popularity in large part due a general perception it’s run out of ideas, that it’s a ship without a captain. By building a campaign on ad hominem attacks the campaign is simply reinforcing a negative perception already resting in the minds of voters.
Almost laughably though the decision to base the campaign around ad hominem attacks is itself further blunted by the fact the basis of those attacks is the idea that Edward Timpson is a toff; a message that sends mixed signals to voters given the decision to juxtapose the attacks with the argument that people should vote for Tamsin Dunwoody because she’s a Dunwoody:
It won’t be lost on voters that a toff is somebody who has benefited from and inheritance not available to the vast majority of people and that Tamsin’s status as a Dunwoody makes her no different.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Here in the North West yesterday on the BBC Politics Show when they go out to local networks it was the three candidates live, Edward Timpson came over as well informed and a strong candidate, Tasmin, well ignorant and very bad mannered, the LibDem candidate, well as usual she promised the earth on behalf of her Party, knowing they will not have to introduce these promised policies!
May 19th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Firstly, it is amazing that Labour felt their tactics would be appropriate in the first place. Secondly, it is amazing that Labour feel that they should continue the same tactics despite the poll ratings.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
When confronted yesterday Tasmin Dunwoody seemed proud of the tatics!
May 21st, 2008 at 9:32 am
It is being theorised elsewhere that they know the election is lost, and are testing this method as a way to keep hold of much of their traditional core vote, to whom this approach would appeal.
It is thought by some commenters that, if that at least does work, it’ll be rolled out around the country as and when needed.
I call it desperation, myself…
May 21st, 2008 at 9:35 am
“The first Dunwoody
Was a goodie
Tamsin’s cries of ‘Toff!’
Turn the voters off
So it’s Tory Ed
Who is now ahead!”