If successful, it would have been a good strategy. Being re-crowned leader would have given Day a new mandate and silenced dissenters. Unfortunately, things did not work out as planned. Despite signing up over 28,000 new Alliance members, Day was only able to garner 37.49 percent of the vote. His main opponent, Stephen Harper, received over 55 percent of the vote and a first ballot victory. Also-rans Diane Ablonczy and Grant Hill received 3.8 and 3.65 percent respectively. Their comparatively poor showing was probably less a reflection of their individual merits than a feeling among long-time party members that Day’s removal was essential if the party was to resurrect itself.
As for victor Stephen Harper, it will take time to see whether he can bring the internal feuding to a halt and turn the Alliance into a national force, instead of just another western Canadian protest party. There is no doubt that his election will signal a change in direction. In addition to leadership, the second main issue dominating the campaign was whether the Canadian Alliance should unite with the Tories. Although he initially supported the Unite the Right movement, Harper now states that it cannot happen while Joe Clark remains leader of the Progressive Conservatives. Harper has always opposed the Red Tory policies of Clark and his followers, although a statement on his official website insists that Joe Clark shut the door on a merger between the two parties. Meanwhile, Harper’s victory over Day means that Joe Clark can no longer hope to gain new Tory recruits from Alliance members unhappy with Stockwell Day. He is also likely to lose the members of the Democratic Representative Caucus, since Harper has made it clear he will welcome them back into the Alliance fold.In addition to putting the brakes on a united right, Harper’s personality has been criticized. More of an intellectual than Day, he clearly is uncomfortable with the political glad-handing and socializing that is an inherent part of political life. This was immediately evident following the announcement of the election results - instead of basking in his victory Harper seemed genuinely uncomfortable talking to reporters, brushing them aside to get to the stage. (Interestingly, the one reporter he did take time to answer was from the Quebec media – Harper carefully responded in French). Although the economist and president of the National Citizens Coalition may be an improvement over Day, at best the prognosis for the Alliance party at this point can be said to be guardedly optimistic.
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