Canadas Trudeau Star Dimmed By Scandals Kicks Off Tough Re-Election Campaign

(Reuters) David Ljunggren September 11 2019 15:00 OTTAWA - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admired abroad for his progressive policies but damaged by scandals at home kicked off a six-week re-election campaign on Wednesday with opinion polls suggesting his hold on power will be weakened. Trudeau whose Liberals swept to office in November 2015 promising sunny ways and stressing the importance of gender equality and the environment faces an electorate more focused on the economy and affordability when it votes on Oct 21. We have a huge amount of work still to do ... under a Liberal government Canada will continue to move forward Trudeau told reporters after visiting the Ottawa residence of Governor General Julie Payette the acting head of state to formally launch the race. The 47-year-old married father of three whose colorful socks and classic good looks are often splashed across the international media may have history on his side. Not since 1935 has a Canadian prime minister who won a parliamentary majority in his first term been booted from office in the next election. But Trudeau may not win enough seats to govern by himself after a series of missteps that called into question his leadership while cutting into his once sky-high popularity. That would leave him and his Liberal Party weakened relying on opposition members of parliament to push through legislation. A Nanos Research poll released on Tuesday showed the Liberals at 34.6 and the main opposition Conservatives led by Andrew Scheer at 30.7. That margin would not be enough to guarantee a majority of seats in the House of Commons. PUNISH THE BUMS Liberals say they are quietly confident of victory and predict Trudeau will campaign much more effectively than Scheer 40 who is fighting his first election as Conservative leader. But Canadian campaigns can produce major surprises. The Liberals trailed in third place when the 2015 election was called but steadily improved to pull off an outright victory. This is not a Throw the bums out election. This is a Punish the bums election said Nik Nanos head of Nanos Research.