Hamish Marshall is a new breed of storyteller – he uses numbers to help us understand the world around us. But more than that, Hamish is a Conservative political strategist, pollster, and demographic expert best known for leading numerous political campaigns at all levels, and advising former prime minister Stephen Harper. We joined Hamish in conversation to better understand the story the numbers are painting and what that might tell us about where we should go next as a nation.
What do you think?
- What did you take from our conversation with one Canada’s leading strategists?
- What are some of the biggest misconceptions about political polling and public opinion research in Canada?
- Do you better understand the role – the value – of data analytics? Do you have more respect for the tool?
- How do you balance the art of political storytelling with the hard numbers that come from polling and analytics?
- In a campaign, how do you decide when to follow the data—and when to trust political instinct?
- How can political campaigns talk about environmental issues in ways that connect with people’s values and concerns?
- Has Hamish’s research changed your perspective on the issues at hand? And do you agree with his opinions on the challenges we face as a nation?