I live in this riding and I can tell you this is not an NDP riding by any stretch of the imagination. They may be strong in the West End and in the areas between Cambie and Main, but the rest of the riding generally leans Liberal, especially the areas with high end condos like Yaletown and Coal Harbour. Running Jim Green will simpy ensure Hedy Fry is re-elected, whereas at least Svend Robinson might have a chance at winning. Like him or dislike him, no one can deny his ability to win personal votes. Consider the fact he won in Burnaby-Douglas in 1993, 1997, and 2000 when the NDP was pratically wiped out in BC. As seen in the most recent provincial election, Burnaby-Douglas is far from the strongest NDP riding, so his wins in the 90s probably had more to do with his personal popularity than party affiliation, which is why I believe it is possible he might win in Vancouver Centre. I'll admit despite being a Liberal, the thought of having to vote Hedy Fry is pretty difficult. I certainly won't be putting a sign on my balcony or offering her any help.

It's no surprise to me that Liberal agent provacateur Miles Lunn is pushing Svend Robinson over Jim Green in this riding. Whereas Jim Green is not likely to alienate anyone, Svend is just too tempting a target and his antics will drive loads of voters into Hedy's arms. As a lifelong card-carrying NDPer, I can say that I will *not* vote for Svend Robinson. I believe he is an embarrassment to the party - and not just because of that ring business either. The NDP needs to learn how to keep the far-left whackos like Svend in the background, otherwise the they will continue to turn off mainstream voters and the party will remain forever mired in third (or fourth) place. Sadly, Svend seems to be something of a folk hero in party circles for reasons beyond my comprehension - everyone falls all over themselves saying what a "great advocate" he's been, however they have a hard time coming up with examples that don't have to do exclusively with gay rights. With this 'brain trust' running the show no wonder the NDP is perched on the edge of oblivion...

I'm not as sure of that as you Miles. Kennedy Stewart did fairly well last time against Hedy, without name recognition, and with a week conservative candidate. The Tories are running a stronger candidate this time around which may be enough to pull off a few votes from the right of Hedy, while as long as the polls don't point to a Tory majority, the center left may move left.

I think Green could easily win this riding, looking at the Van center muncipal polls in which he won all but 2 of them. (and even had a decent showing in Yale town) Its ripe for the taking, if the dippers can put someone with a high profile and stomachable. (Plus, he could hang out with our new Senator while in Ottawa)

Svend on the other hand, with all his status, may actually solidify Hedy's position and give her a better chance of winning. While he should have support in Davie Village, I think his credibility hasn't recovered. He popped up at the WERA debate, and also campaigned across from me on the corner of Davie and Bute, and he seemed to be largely ignored. I had a few people ask "is that Svend", and when we said yes, they just shrugged.

Actually Sam Sullivan won 6 polls in Vancouver Centre not two (one was on the mainland), while five were downtown (3 Yaletown and 2 in Coal Harbour). I am not a Liberal agent as one says above, I only plan to vote Liberal since I don't like the other options available. In fact I am quite disgusted with Hedy Fry after the comments she made about the crosses burning in Prince George. I agree that Svend Robinson is one of the more wackier members, yet despite this, he held Burnaby-Douglas in 1993, 1997, and 2000 when the NDP was nearly shut out of BC so there must be a reason for that. This riding does seem to like is maverick MPs/MLAs i.e. Hedy Fry and Lorne Mayencourt (who I think has been a great MLA, nonetheless quite controversial in his own right) have won here. As for the Tory candidate, being stronger, I know absolutely nothing about him so I would question whether that is the case or not. Secondly last time's Tory candidate Gary Mitchell was openly gay, an opponent of the PC/Alliance merger, and a Stronach supporter so he was about as moderate as one could get within the party, so I cannot see them doing any better this time around, especially with the current polls generally placing the Tories in third in BC. Finally, I don't think Svend or Jim Green will pick up any of the BC Liberal votes who got 42% in Vancouver-Burrard and 43% in Vancouver-Fairview, while the NDP always does worse federally than provincially where they got 42% Vancouver-Burrard and 46% Vancouver-Fairview. The strength of Vision Vancouver probably has more to do with the fact they many Yuppies are progressive minded so they vote for left wing parties municipally whose powers are quite limited since they cannot raise income taxes or go into deficit, but go for right leaning parties or centrist parties federally and provincially since they are against deficits and tax hikes.

DanG, where you at Davie and Bute on the Saturday of the election? I was and it seemed lots of people were acknowledging Svend. When I went over to talk to him our conversation was constantly inturupted by people saying hello and giving their praises..

where you with Jamie Lee in front of Hamburger Mary's? :O

What is sad to note is that all three federal parties have so little to offer the public, but particularly the Nutters and the Libranos, in Svend Robinson and Hedy Fry. She is, by far and away, the most useless Liberal candidate that riding has ever seen (Lynne Kennedy runs an almost tie for first place in that sad category).
Out of touch and bereft of any and all semblance of issues germane to the country, she continues to bridge the gap between lackey and loonie. The burning crusses comment being only one of her celebrated nuggets.

And as for Svender, the Lord of the Rings: first MP to move against God in Parliament, first MP to participate in a suicide, first MP heckle a sitting President of the United States, first MP to be convicted of theft, first MP to suggest that his bi-polar disorder would actually help him be a better MP in Parliament if elected, first MP to suggest that his medication for such a disorder would not interfere, but in fact would assist him in making better decisions in Parliament......

Yep, Jabba Jim is looking like a lock...

What a joke.