Mr. Poilievre, 45, the opposition Conservative Party leader, has been stretching the rules in Canada’s political discourse with a combative, attack-driven style and an anti-elite, populist message that has been described as authentic by supporters and Trumpian by critics.
A career politician long known as a fierce attack-dog for his party, with an instinctive sense of the themes that resonate among voters, Mr. Poilievre has successfully pummeled the unpopular Mr. Trudeau in the past year and made him appear out of touch.
Canadians seem sure that he’s going to be elected, so it’s not like we think we’re safe from him. But the non-right-wingers who are at least somewhat politically aware know he’s a joke.
The problem is that most of our population is politically ignorant.