The 2006 election really turned over the Christmas holidays when families got together and chatted politics around the dinner table (or, for New Democrats, “around the kitchen table“). If we assume that the same thing will happen when Canadians watch football and talk turkey this weekend, that certainly ads an intriguing element of uncertainty to the election.

Now, it’s debatable how many people will really change their mind on the final weekend – I suspect a Thanksgiving dinner the weekend right after the debates would have been more likely to move votes. But the topic is sure to come up and, if they’re smart, the parties are going to be blanketing the CFL and HNIC weekend broadcasts with ads. Given that pollsters won’t be able to catch any turkey-aided shifts, it certainly could lead to a surprise on Tuesday.