Google helping Liberals steal NDP voters

Posted by Allan Woods

All parties are aggressively trying to capitalize on the growing use of social media. The New Democratic Party has launched an iPhone app, all parties are pushing their announcements and criticisms on Twitter and most candidates in the May 22 election have dedicated Facebook sites to attract supporters.

But if you were still doubting the parties' faith that technology can give them an edge, here's some more evidence.

Punch "NDP" into your google search engine, then peer over to the right hand side of your computer screen. 

There, you'll find an advertisement for Michael Ignatieff's Liberals and a fairly blatant attempt to steal the eyeballs, if not the voters, that would normally lean to the left leaning New Democrats. The small print reads:

"Learn more about Michael Ignatieff and his bold, new vision for Canada"

(Google seems to be alternating the ads between one for the Liberals and another for Ontario government tax credits)

The Liberal party's problem over the last two election campaigns has been fighting for votes with the two other left-of centre parties while the Conservative Party claims all those on the centre-right of the political spectrum.

The last two election campaigns have come down to Liberal leaders pronouncing in the dying days of the race that voters need to rally around their party to hold the Tories at bay.

It hasn't worked of course, and there's no evidence it will work any better this time around, but at least it's a bit more subtle.