By Randall Palmer and David Ljunggren
OTTAWA, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, who
won headlines in 2012 by whipping a Conservative senator in a
charity boxing match, will try to prove he's a heavyweight in
the political arena in Canada's first electoral debate on
Thursday.
The 43-year-old Trudeau, who has fallen to third from first
in the polls, will face three-term Conservative Prime Minister
Stephen Harper, 56, as well as 60-year-old Thomas Mulcair,
leader of the New Democratic Party. The debate will have to vie
for attention with Donald Trump and the U.S. Republican primary
debate on the same night. ID:nL1N10F27U
Polls show Mulcair has displaced Trudeau as the main
challenger to Harper in the run-up to the Oct. 19 vote amid
questions over whether the Liberal leader with boyish looks has
the experience to head Canada's federal government.
Both Harper and Mulcair, a former provincial cabinet
minister in Quebec, have taken swipes at Trudeau saying the job
of prime minister is not an entry-level position. Trudeau, who
enjoys wide name recognition as the son of former Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau, worked as a teacher before being elected to
Parliament in 2008.
"The guy who has to really kind of change the narrative is
Justin Trudeau," said Ipsos Public Affairs pollster Darrell
Bricker. "His problem is demonstrating the opposite of what the
Conservative ads have been saying, which is proving that he
actually is ready."
The Conservatives, who have run ads for months charging
Trudeau is "just not ready," suggested he would just have to
turn up for the two-hour debate in Toronto to be considered a
success.
"The bar for Justin has been set so low he can't help but
surpass expectations," said Conservative campaign spokesman Kory
Teneycke.
Trudeau tried to revive some fighting spirit by scheduling a
visit to a Toronto boxing gym on Thursday before the debate.
"He will have the opportunity to speak directly to Canadians
about his plan to grow the economy by strengthening the middle
class," said Liberal spokesman Cameron Ahmad.
Mulcair spokesman Shawn Dearn was less impressed, tweeting:
"Trotting out one's leader to flash some skin at gym before
debate smells of desperation."
Bricker said Mulcair, the country's official opposition
leader, should be in a venue that favors him given his ability
to get under Harper's skin in toe-to-toe encounters in the House
of Commons.
A veteran debater, Harper is expected to stick to his
strategy of stressing his experience and attacking rivals as
risky.
Green leader Elizabeth May will also take part in the
debate, which starts at 8 p.m. ET (0000 GMT).
(Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson and Alan Crosby)