A furious beating of wings

摘要

Making a politician who is given to bursts of rage and colourful language seem cuddly and reassuring is a hard job. So too is transforming the image of a party that is branded by opponents as a bunch of tax-and-spend socialists who would bungle the nation's economy. Both makeovers will be needed if Thomas Mulcair is to capitalise on the chance he has to lead his New Democratic Party (NDP) to victory and become Canada's first really left-wing prime minister. After overturning four decades of Progressive Conservative rule in the province of Alberta in May, the NDP is now tipped to come top in national elections in October.