Alberta's election could be 'irrational,' says Corey Hogan

At least one political analyst believes the Alberta provincial election has all the makings of a perfect storm.

"People are walking in eyes closed, refusing to listen to anything and, frankly, voting or being prepared to vote in a bit of protest way without even realizing there could be consequences," said Corey Hogan, the director of engagement strategies with Hill + Knowlton.

If the latest polls are accurate, the NDP and the Wildrose are tied for first place, leaving the Tories battling it out on two fronts.

• Alberta election polls suggest NDP lead in Edmonton, Calgary ridings

Hogan, who is also a former executive director of the Alberta Liberal Party, recently wrote an article for his company's website called A Completely Irrational Election.

In ithe explains why the 2015 provincial election could be so different than years past.

No historical precedent

"There's simply no historical data that is remotely relevant to our current situation," writes Hogan.

Here's why:

• Four new party leaders not a single one of the parties has the same leader they had in 2012 election.
• A party that was supposed to be dead (Wildrose) came back from the dead.
• For the first time since the '80s, the Liberals are not running a candidatein every riding.
• The Alberta Party is raising as much money asthe PCs.
• The NDP was never a big factor in Calgary before, but now it is.

"The effects of this are totally immeasurable at this point," said Hogan.

What's the point?

Even Calgary's mayor is trying to get people involved in the debate about the future of the province and encourage more peopleto vote.

• Naheed Nenshi urging voters to engage in debate about Alberta's future

"The key is let's start talking about policy. You know, so far I gotta say this election has been a bit Seinfeldian," said Naheed Nenshi.

Hogan calls polls a snapshot, but adds there are indications the PCs are really in trouble.

"I would agree with the mayor.It's an election about nothing in the sense that people are being very nihilistic about it. They feel like this election is not going to have any consequences," said Hogan.