Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Canadian federal election,
1968 Trudeau, who was a relative unknown until he was appointed
to the cabinet by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, had won a
surprise victory over Paul Martin Sr. in the party's leadership
election earlier in 1968. The charismatic, intellectual,
handsome, single, and fully bilingual Trudeau soon captured the
hearts and minds of the nation, and the period leading up to the
election saw such intense feelings for him that it was dubbed
"Trudeaumania." At public appearances, he was confronted by
screaming girls, something never before seen in Canadian
politics. The Liberal campaign was dominated by Trudeau's
personality. Liberal campaign ads featured pictures of Trudeau
inviting Canadians to "Come work with me", and encouraged them
to "Vote for New Leadership for All of Canada". The substance of
the campaign was based upon the creation of a "just society",
with a proposed expansion of social programs. The principal
opposition to the Liberals were the P