Liberals hopeful changes will improve party fortunes
Published Thursday October 29th, 2009
OTTAWA - Liberals are hopeful that their flagging fortunes will rebound now that leader Michael Ignatieff has installed a seasoned political communications whiz at the helm of his inner circle.
Liberal MPs were uniformly enthusiastic Wednesday about the appointment of Peter Donolo, one-time communications director for former prime minister Jean Chretien, as Ignatieff's new chief of staff.
"He has everything we need," said Toronto MP Rob Oliphant.
"He has opposition experience, he has government experience, he's a communicator, he's got a people sense. He's likable."
Oliphant also predicted that Donolo, known for his irreverent sense of humour, will "lighten the kind of weightiness of the office."
Ajax, Ont., MP Mark Holland said the party has to "do a better job in branding and marketing our message" and he predicted Donolo will help "focus our message so people have a clear understanding of what we're trying to say."
Senator Terry Mercer, who was national director of the party during much of the Chretien era, said Donolo will be "a steady hand at the wheel and that's what we need."
Those kinds of accolades put heavy pressure on Donolo to live up to high - and possibly unrealistic - expectations.
Donolo is given credit for helping Chretien shed the label of "yesterday's man" before going on to win three consecutive majority governments, a feat unparalleled by any other Liberal leader.
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With the liberals, each area sends one delegate to some far off location to vote for the leader. This system is ripe for corruption, as a few people can hand pick who will vote.