By Randall Palmer and David Ljunggren
OTTAWA, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Canada's political leaders do not
just have to worry about holding their own in the opening
election debate on Thursday. They will also be up against the
enormous publicity-generating machine that is Donald Trump.
Halfway through the Canadian debate, Fox News is to start
broadcasting the first debate among Republican contenders for
the 2016 U.S. presidential election, starring Trump among
others.
Arguably, it is more important for Canadian voters to watch
their own leaders in the runup to the country's election on Oct.
19 rather than one tied to the November 2016 U.S. election. But
for those people who are fascinated by U.S. politics, it may be
a tricky decision.
As it is, it may be difficult enough to draw voters to a
summer election debate.
"What cruel god decided this?" Justin Ling, a despairing
Vice commentator, tweeted upon realizing the debates were on the
same night.
For Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and New Democratic Party
leader Thomas Mulcair, it will be their first chance to go
head-to-head with Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Green leader Elizabeth May will also take part in the
debate, which is being hosted by Maclean's, a weekly news
magazine.
"Donald Trump will always be amusing and he will never be
president, whereas one of the four people on our stage will
certainly be prime minister after Oct 19," debate moderator Paul
Wells, a Maclean's political columnist, said on Tuesday.
"We are confident that Canadians will not be distracted by
Conservative attack ads, nor by Donald Trump," said a Liberal
spokesman.
Conservative campaign officials were not immediately
available for comment.
The New Democrats, though, were happy to take their lead
from the combative U.S. real estate mogul.
"We're not running against Donald Trump. So for asking this
question, you're fired," said Karl Belanger, adviser to leader
Tom Mulcair, citing a catchphrase used on Trump's reality-TV
show.
For the record, the Canadian debate starts at 8 p.m. EDT
Thursday (midnight GMT) and runs for two hours. The Republican
debate runs from 9 to 11 p.m. EDT.
(Editing by Peter Galloway)