Has Harper's campaign taken an explicitly racist turn since Lynton Crosby came aboard?

In the three weeks since the Conservatives brought in Lynton Crosby, the tone of the election campaign has noticeably changed.

No longer is the focus on the economy, jobs, and such. Suddenly we're deeply immersed in the politics of race-baiting and fear-mongering. Lynton Crosby specializes in picking away at the scabs of fear, envy, and intolerance.

It's a winning formula; Harper's polling numbers have been trending upward since Crosby's arrival.