Pundits award debate to Horwath, as stumbling Wynne speed-talks into ditch

TORONTO, May 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Pundits reaction was fast and furious on social media, awarding the first leaders' debate of the 2014 Ontario Election to Andrea Horwath. The pundit class showed little mercy in their unsparing criticism of Wynne, who they docked points from for speed-talking her way through talking points as though she had a plane to catch and just wanted to get out of the room.

Commentators said Horwath came out swinging and closed the deal with her strong command of the issues. Wynne was put on the back foot early and stumbled repeatedly as she randomly threw out awkward apologies for the gas plant fiasco. While Wynne has spent much of the campaign fleeing the Liberal record of scandal, in the first debate of the campaign there was nowhere to hide as she was called to account and caught like a deer in headlights on Thunder Bay's Highway 17.   

Before the debate even started, Wynne got off on the wrong foot with Northeners in the room, who remarked on the arrogance of the Liberal campaign, which put "Premier" on her podium art, when that is a decision that clearly rests with voters June 12.

WYNNE RACES TO GET OUT OF THE ROOM

Robert Benzie @robertbenzie
Wynne's debate coaches may want to tell her to slow down. Charging through like she has a plane to catch. #onpoli

Alan Carter ‏@ACarterglobal 
Did someone give @Kathleen_Wynne a double espresso just before she went on stage? She's speed talking through answers. #voteon

Adrian Morrow ‏@AdrianMorrow 
At times, it seems @Kathleen_Wynne is trying to cram as many things as possible into her responses #voteON

Ashley Csanady ‏@AshleyCsanady 
Wynne needs to take a deep breath and slow down... and also stop throwing out a million facts. #onpoli #voteon

Paige T. MacPherson ‏@paigemacp  23s
Lots of people talking about Wynne speaking very quickly and speeding through her responses at #onpoli Thunder Bay debate.

WYNNE STUMBLES

Adrian Morrow ‏@AdrianMorrow 
.@Kathleen_Wynne randomly throws in an apology for the gas plants into a response on getting jobs for young people. Cos why not. #voteON

Ashley Csanady @AshleyCsanady
Wynne better than this in question period. She's stumbling on this question. "The final formula has not been decided upon" #onpoli #voteon

HORWATH COMES OUT SWINGING

Steve Paikin ‏@spaikin
.@AndreaHorwath's opening statement was a 1-2 punch to the gut. accusing @Kathleen_Wynne of being at the centre of corruption. #onpoli

Ashley Csanady @AshleyCsanady
Horwath says the day the OPP showed up to take away hard drives from QP she "heard the ppl of On" and knew time for change #onpoli #voteon

Robert Benzie ‏@robertbenzie 
Wynne "was at the centre" of Liberal scandals, thunders Horwath. #onpoli

Martin Regg Cohn ‏@reggcohn 
Ouch! NDP's @andreahorwath takes a shot at @timhudak absence then rips into Libs now led by @Kathleen_Wynne w/corrupt govt.

Shelby Ch'ng @Shelby4tbay
Horwath: Libs dont deserve re-election... *air gets sucked out of room full of liberals* #NLDebate #onpoli

Genevieve Tomney @genevievetomney
Horwath: I'm really pleased Ms Wynne has joined us today. I think Mr. Hudak's absence sums up his commitment to north. #onpoli #voteon #sl

POTHEN Planning Law ‏@pothen  1m
I can see why Andrea Horwath wanted 5 debates. She's really making a strong case for the #NDP platform. #onpoli

HORWATH STRONG COMMAND OF ISSUES

Martin Regg Cohn @reggcohn
NDP ldr @AndreaHorwath going on attack early vs Libs on energy + Ring of Fire in North, says they've wasted opportunities

Genevieve Tomney @genevievetomney
Horwath: NDP would be willing to commit more than $1B to RoF if needed #voteon #onpoli #sl

Steve Paikin @spaikin
horwath: i've been to towns where no 1 wants to be the mayor when towns go bankrupt. property tax system broken. we'll take it on immediately

Paige T. MacPherson @paigemacp
Horwath says NDP will immediately take on helping municipalities with revenues, incl revenue sharing from mining, a $ problem in NO. #onpoli

rjbrennan @rjbrennan
NDP Ldr @AndreaHorwath says Ontario is paying twice the rate for electricity than Manitoba and driving away business. #VoteOn

rjbrennan @rjbrennan
@AndreaHorwath says Liberals can't be trusted on electricity, saying they twice broke promises to change coal fired plant to gas. #VoteOn

SOURCE: New Democratic Party of Ontario

Media Contact: Alex Callahan, 416-591-5455 x2386