The Star’s Ottawa Bureau chief Susan Delacourt joined readers Thursday to answer questions about the federal election campaign.

“We need the news media as a check against rampant mistruth! All parties play fast and loose at times with facts. We try to watch out for them, but are always grateful when they’re brought to our attention too.,” Delacourt told one reader.

When asked about attack ads, Delacourt wrote that her research has showed “negative advertising generally works. Any ads that play on emotions are more powerful, regrettably, and anger/ridicule are easier to whip up than more positive thoughts.”

when asked about how this election differs from others she has covered, Delacourt said she finds “this election more fragmented than others — no main narrative, no clear idea of what the ballot-box question will be.”

“Thank you to all who took time over today’s lunch hour to ask questions about this election. Interest like this sustains my faith in democracy! Please remember to vote, whichever way you lean or decide,” Delacourt wrote, before signing off.

Scroll down to read the full Q&A below.

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