By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 30, 2015

Mulcair cut a little too close last night

The smart money Monday night at the Munk Debate on foreign policy was on NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair taking down Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

Dropping in the national opinion polls after his performance last week during the French-language, the view was he needed to attack Mr. Trudeau to gain back his momentum.

Instead, he just got angry – and a little too personal.

“He doesn’t understand debates because he’s used to having people write lines for him,” Mr. Mulcair said at one point, suggesting Mr. Trudeau was lacking in intellect.

The 2,500-member audience was packed into Roy Thomson Hall in downtown Toronto, and it was just as much part of the debate as were the leaders. The audience groaned at Mr. Mulcair’s remark, clearly not appreciating it.

Earlier, the NDP Leader took a swipe at Mr. Trudeau’s late father and former prime minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, for jailing Canadians without allowing them a trial under the War Measures Act during the 1970 October Crisis. (Some “oohs” and “ahhs” from the audience could be heard.)

Mr. Trudeau responded emotionally: “Throughout this campaign both of these gentlemen at various points have attacked my father. Let me say very clearly I am incredibly proud to be Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s son.”

He noted, too, it was “15 years ago tonight that he passed away … and I know that he wouldn’t want us to be fighting the battles of the past, he’d want us squarely focused on the future …”

The low blows didn’t help Mr. Mulcair. By the end of the evening, the smart money had moved to Stephen Harper and Mr. Trudeau and they shared the win. (Source: Globe & Mail)