Harper had vicious political cunning - not an education or world travel or experience even on a board of directors or much of anything beyond a working stint in Imperial Oil's mail room - a job his daddy got for him.  His daddy being an elite accountant for Imp Oil.

Harper manufactured an image which fooled many - no more than 5 questions from journalists, no follow up questions and questions to be submitted to Harper before the event.  

Also, by surrounding himself with utter idiots like Vic Toews and Gerry Ritz - Harper really was the smartest man in a roomful of dimwits.

Trudeau engages in no similar manipulation of his media events, for which he is roundly ridiculed by those previously fooled by Harper.  Trudeau doesn't suffer Harper's ego or insecurities and hires smarter people or puts them in cabinet positions and on his NAFTA team.

Canadian citizens have different opinions on how smart that is.