Pauline Marois’ Lucky Break

It’s a neat little 17-page document that doesn’t pull any punches about leader Pauline Marois.

It describes her as a “cold, hard snob” who must change.

Harsh words for one’s own leader.

In reality, the leak could be a gift for the PQ organizers if they know how to take advantage of it.

It’s an opportunity to change her image and turn her into Quebec`s warmest, most down-to-earth politician.

Forget line dancing. Tap dancing and corn husking are out too.

It’ll take some doing, but the PQ has enough artistic talent to come up with a winning video. Ask Stephen Harper.

The video could open with Marois in a comfy woollen sweater, ensconced in a big sofa chair in front of the fireplace in the living room of her Île Bizard mansion.

She is reading the leaked election guide.

Suddenly she jumps up and snaps : “What, me a cold, hard snob. NO! Never!”

At that moment her waiter arrives with a bottle of Canadian white wine and serves her a glass.

She tastes it. “Whaaa!” she says in her haughtiest tone.

The waiter leaves and returns with a quart bottle of Quebec beer.

He pours her a glass. She tastes it. “Now that’s better,” she says. “A winning taste,” she adds, smiling.

The camera zooms in on the PQ beer label.

She looks into the camera, with a big, friendly smile. The voice-over says: ‘A real Quebec choice.’

Music – fade to PQ logo.

The video get across everything the guide says she should be: warm, charming, distinguished yet down-to-earth, discriminating and yet self-deprecating - and a real Quebecker.

All that remains is to wait for the video to go viral across Quebec, like the Michel Rivard video did.

If Harper had been able to turn his ridiculous blue woollen sweater ad into a fun video, the federal election outcome might have been different.

In hard times people seek humor. They also like politicians who can laugh at themselves but still know what they are doing.

Quebeckers are way ahead of the politicians right now.

They know for instance, that Jean Charest did not need to call a provincial election to talk about the current economic crisis. The National Assembly is still standing.

With the Liberals up in the polls and Mario Dumont’s ADQ down to 17 percent, they know that’s why Charest called an election. He’s an opportunist.

Right now that’s exactly what Quebeckers are trying to decide. Should they give him his majority or not.

Quebeckers won’t be fooled. They know the global economic crisis won’t be solved in Quebec City.

At most, a new Quebec government can only soften the blow – and maybe make us laugh a while.