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The viral Jagmeet Singh heckler video has had 35 million views. That’s about 34.99 million more viewers than the average NDP leadership campaign event.

For a contest that has chloroformed anyone watching, it was a rare moment of drama.

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There are some transformative moments in politics — Justin Trudeau’s boxing match; Jean Chrétien’s “Shawinigan Handshake” — that reverberate beyond the Ottawa bubble.

This feels like one of them.

Photo by YouTube

Academic Elise Maiolino studied the post-fight media coverage of the Trudeau-Patrick Brazeau bout and concluded that it transitioned the future prime minister from “precariously masculine” to “sufficiently masculine.” Prior to the fight, the perception was that he was a lightweight pretty-boy. Post-fight, he was regarded as a courageous leadership contender.

It remains to be seen whether the heckling from a protester who accused him of being “in bed with the Muslim brotherhood” is transformative for Singh.

But — unless you agree with the assessment of website Rise Canada that the protester, Jennifer Bush, is a “heroic, independent activist,” who carried “an inclusive message of constructive criticism” — you probably have a more positive view of Singh now than before you saw the video.

It was an impressive display of grace under pressure. Most of us would have found relief in profanity.

But Singh told the protester that everyone in the room supported her and believed in her rights. She tried to assert that he supports intolerance and sharia law; he exploded the claim by extending patience and compassion. Singh emerged with reputation enhanced.

Voters worry less about what their leaders say than how they make them feel — and New Democrats, and perhaps all Canadians, will look at Singh and feel good about themselves.