At a recent news conference in Toronto, federal public safety minister Stockwell Day announced a multi-million dollar project aimed at keeping vulnerable kids out of gangs in the city. Toronto Mayor David Miller praised the plan and the conference ended without incident.
That's the way it's been the whole campaign: Day is going about his business without causing a commotion. It's a stark contrast to years past.
Day became politically active almost three decades ago, when he defended the curriculum in the school where he was an administrator. Critics alleged the courses and lessons were racist and anti-Semitic.
In 1986, Day was elected Conservative MLA for Red Deer North. He held the position for 14 years, including eight as a cabinet minister.
An evangelical Christian, Day caused controversy by opposing a change to Alberta's human rights code that would protect homosexuals from discrimination, and by supporting a group that wanted to stop funding abortions except when a woman's life was at risk.
A new federal party, the Canadian Alliance, was established in 2000 and Day became its leader. He was heralded by some as a young, fresh face on the national political scene, a contrast to former Reform leader Preston Manning.
But despite winning a by-election in the B.C. riding of Okanagan-Coquihalla, his image of youth and vigour dissipated quickly – stunts like arriving at a news conference riding a Jet Ski and wearing a wetsuit didn't help.
When the Liberals called a snap election, Day led his party into battle in a campaign filled with gaffes and memorable confrontations with protesters. In the end, his Alliance won 66 seats in Parliament to became the official opposition.
Still, many Alliance members felt Day's campaign had been unfocused.
Soon after, it was revealed that, while he was a cabinet minister in Alberta, Day had been sued for libel and the province had covered his legal bills.
In the ensuing firestorm, Day resigned as leader and Stephen Harper became leader.
But Day didn't wither away under Harper's leadership. He survived the merger of the Alliance and PC parties, and held key posts both in opposition (foreign affairs critic) and in govenrment (Minister of Public Safety).
Many observers expected controversial moves from the man known by many as "the lightweight in the wetsuit," but he has surprised them. It seems that the man who roared into our collective conscious on a Jet Ski now stands on solid ground.