Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks as 2.5-year-old Fiona Wellburn plays with her toys during a campaign stop in Saanich, B.C., on March 28, 2011.The Canadian Press
There's always risk of being upstaged when you stick children in a photo-op - as Stephen Harper learned in Saanich, B.C., on Monday.
He launched his bid for middle-class votes with an address to reporters at Steve and Tanya Wellburn's home in the Greater Victoria Area.
Things started off okay with the Conservative Leader promoting his tax cut for families by saying the Wellburn kids are asking for their share.
"I hear there have already been requests for more allowance," he joked.
But when Mr. Harper began his formal announcement, Fiona, the littlest Wellburn, was having none of it.
As you might expect from a small child, the 2.5-year-old was more interested in flitting about with a stuffed animal in each fist than listening to a politician speak.
At one point Mr. Harper said he was taking swats on the back of his legs. "I've got a couple of guys whacking me from behind."
He joked to reporters that if the Conservatives had planned it they'd have the little Wellburn target CBC reporter Terry Milewski instead.
The Conservative Leader quipped that normally hits that come from behind are usually pack "a bigger punch" but the blows are "just as low."
Steven Chase