“Normies.” According to one of the deepest analysts within the UCP, if Danielle Smith and the United Conservatives want to win next October’s provincial election, it has to spend the next 11 months proving to “normies” — ordinary, middle-of-the-road Alberta voters — that they can be trusted to provide stable, non-radical leadership.

They can be right-of-centre, for sure. That is still where the majority of voters are in Calgary and the rest of the province outside Edmonton. But the UCP (and especially Smith) have to stop giving off a MAGA vibe.

GUNTER: Danielle Smith and UCP have to lay off MAGA vibe Back to video

Especially after the separatism referendum, the premier has to stop appearing to appease her party’s hardcore base.

It’s a good thing the UCP leadership has banned the introduction of pro-separatism resolutions at the party’s convention later this month in Calgary. And they were right to take the bold step of stripping fanatic separatist lawyer Jeffery Rath of his UCP membership, which effectively bars Rath from attending the UCP annual general........

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