44Faced with a charismatically challenged opponent, Prime Minister Stephen Harper went into the fall federal election as Superman, master of all aspects of our economy. However, since then, the economy has become Harper's kryptonite, the issue that threatens to bring his government to its knees.

Meanwhile, in the Canadian election, Harper and the Conservatives were trying to carefully plot a reaction to the deepening global financial crisis. In the lead-up to the French and English televised leaders' debates, the Conservatives asked that the segment of the debate dedicated to the economy be increased to 30 minutes from 12 minutes, to recognize the importance of the crisis. It would turn out to be an enormous mistake.

In the French debate, opposition leaders scored big points by harassing Harper about his muted response to the economic crisis. In the English debate the following night, Harper tried to fight back by accusing Liberal Leader Stephane Dion of "panicking" in the face of economic turmoil. Harper tried to play off his image as the firm, strong leader of the economy, but his inability to propose any specific measures to protect Canada from the creeping global recession spooked many voters.