A horse race is not won in the first few lengths out of the gate. Neither is an election campaign, particularly in Quebec. 

The political parties are gearing up for the fall election, finalizing their roster of candidates and putting in place campaign organizations in 127 ridings. The leaders are on social media every day, trying to remain in the public consciousness, and attending local events with candidates before things really start to ramp up in late August.

Much of the early commentary suggests the Liberals should be concerned. Critics on both sides of the linguistic divide have been harsh toward leader Charles Milliard. Some have pointed to low voter recognition and a relatively lesser profile in the media, or to the mixed soup he is brewing in trying to satisfy both anglophones and francophones on language policy, or to his difficulty in defining himself and the party on bread-and-butter issues. 

Conversely, as premier, Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette gets to be everywhere these days — from the memorial ceremony of slain Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane,........

© Montreal Gazette