Maybe I can shed some light. I've known Harper since 1996. Although we weren't close friends, we met every so often and used to keep in fairly regular contact. We discussed everything from Canadian politics to, believe it or not, traditional Christmas music. I also worked in the Prime Minister's Office as one of his speechwriters during the first minority government.     

Harper is a highly intelligent, well-read, and astute political thinker. He's a great admirer of past conservative leaders like Ronald Reagan, Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. He holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Calgary, and is always engaged when it comes to Canada's financial health and future success. Harper understands campaigning, having first won a federal seat in 1993, and enjoys the subtle art of strategic warfare during an election. He's also a conviction politician: doing what he feels is right, no matter the personal cost in terms of popular opinion and support.

Yet for many years, Harper was one of Canada's most underestimated and misunderstood public figures. He was difficult to classify, often characterised as a voice of moderate conservatism or an extreme right-winger out of touch with mainstream thinking. He was viewed as a policy wonk who couldn't identify with the common man. He was a decent public speaker, but hardly an inspiring figure: he lacked charisma, and was considered wooden. In short, he was everything they teach you in Politics 101 not to be when running for public office. 

Political conditions were also not to Harper's advantage. The Liberals had formed the government for nearly 75 per cent of Canada's political history. Generations of voters, from established families to new immigrants, were comfortable with them and often refused to consider alternatives. Even when a Tory won a federal election, as Brian Mulroney did on two successive occasions (a rarity), the Liberals would come roaring back in popular support before long. In the world of give and take in federal elections, Canadian conservatives were given many headaches — and took many hits.