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It’s been a terrible first half of the campaign for the Conservatives, lurching from Duffy to recession to the refugee crisis, and further undermined by infighting among the inner campaign circle. And yes, they’ve often polled in third place. But with a new advisor, Australian Lynton Crosby, it would be a huge mistake to count out Stephen Harper. Tom Mulcair and Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, will come under closer scrutiny in the days ahead—Mulcair has been the frontrunner for weeks, and frontrunners feel the toughest headwinds. And amid all the campaigning, the Bruce Carson trial is set to get underway: Carson, a former senior advisor to Stephen Harper, faces charges of influence peddling.

Here are your Three to Things Watch as we pass the election campaign’s half-way point:

THE HEADLINES

• 
  ON FIXERS
  Harper enlists Lynton Crosby

• 
  ON CROSBY
  Who is the Wizard of Oz?

• 
  ON HARPER
  Is this the PM’s last stand?

• ON VOTERS
  We’re not who we think we are

• 
  ON TABLETS
  Introducing the Bulldog

• 
  ON CHOICES
  Try our Policy Face-off Machine