Know your competition (en francais)

Many of the EDA Yearly Financial returns are now being posted online at Elections Canada.

It never hurts to know what kind of resources you are facing. Using the returns you can work out a rough estimate of where each EDA stands.

Take their cash on hand from 2004, and add 60% of what they spent on their 2004 election campaign. From that you should have a good idea of where they are today.

This is a rather simplistic explanation, as there are other factors such as loans during an election, monies owing to parties etc, but this is only meant as a guide.

Whether you are facing a newcomer or an incumbent, it's worthwhile to put in some research. Some basic opposition research should play a factor in compiling your campaign plan.

Now's the time to do this kind of work, not after the writ has been dropped.