My dad was a fiery CCF/NDP opponent of Diefenbaker's in the House of Commons 1957-62. Yet, surprisingly, he much preferred Dief to both Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau (later Liberal PMs). My dad felt that way about Diefenbaker because his own riding was isolated - way up in northern Ontario. It was far away from any "newsy" cities in the country.
Saskatchewan produced both Diefenbaker and the NDP's founding leader Tommy Douglas. Quite a place.