The Pollcast: Talking leaders' debates

The provincial leaders' debate in New Brunswick took an unexpected turn Wednesday nightwhen Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgstook a sworn affidavit out of his jacket, claiming that he had been offered the job of finance minister when Liberal Leader Brian Gallant took power in 2014.

What kind of impact will this have on the election campaign in New Brunswick and how do leaders prepare for the unexpected in debates?

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On this week's episode of the Pollcast, theCBC'sJacques Poitrasbreaks down the leaders' debate in New Brunswick and how Higgs'ssurprise declaration could have an effect on the rest of the campaign. He also gives his take on how all the leaders did in the first debate of a campaign that ends on Sept. 24.

And as party leaders in Quebec prepare for the first of three debates in that province's campaign, Chad Rogers, partner at Crestview Strategyand a veteran of debate preparation, describes what goes on behind the scenes when leaders get ready for what can be the turning point of anelection.

Listen to the full discussion above or subscribe to the CBCPollcastand listen to past episodes of the show.

Follow ric Grenier, Jacques Poitras and Chad Rogerson Twitter.