You could sense something was wrong as Conservative campaign staffers huddled outside the Sheraton Hotel in Surrey, B.C., this morning.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his wife Laureen, and the travelling media spent the night here, and up until this morning, it was supposed to be the start of another routine day on the campaign trail. But now, everything seemed 鈥渙ff.鈥�
It was clear the mood had noticeably changed. There was a tension in the air following reports of a Canadian connection to the drowned Syrian boy captured in the graphic photo that went around the world.
It had already prompted Immigration Minister Chris Alexander to abruptly cancel an interview on CTV's Canada AM; his staff emailed a statement that he "suspended" his campaign to deal with the crisis.
Jason Kenney followed shortly thereafter and cancelled a previously arranged press conference -- of all topics -- to strengthen Canada's Immigration system.
And then Stephen Harper cancelled his morning campaign event.
In political speak, this is called 鈥済oing into bunker mode鈥� -- but this was unprecedented.
It appeared the disciplined Conservatives were quickly losing control.
For almost 40 minutes, it felt like the campaign was in limbo. I spotted a top campaign staffer about a block from the hotel, away from ear shot, glued to his phone and pacing around.
There was speculation the prime minster would cancel his events for the rest of the week -- including a stop in the Yukon -- to return home to Ottawa. It would have been an alarming sign of a campaign in deep trouble.
Eventually, the campaign resumed and the planned campaign stop was on, except there would be a change: Harper, we were told, would scrap his local transit announcement and speak on the refugee crisis that was gaining huge traction online and around the world.
The tension lingered as the Conservative campaign bus made its way to the giant warehouse where organizers had pre-arranged all the TV-friendly backgrounds and crowds who would stand behind the prime minister as he spoke.
But even at this event, another noticeable difference: There was no energy in the room. The crowd of supporters didn鈥檛 appear to be in a cheering mood.
Harper appeared subdued as he got up to speak. He said he saw the photo on the Internet the night before in his hotel suite, with his wife Laureen by his side, and he was shaken.
And in a rare showing of emotion, Harper appeared to be choking back tears. He referenced how it made him think of his own son, Ben, who was once that age. Harper then paused, seemingly lost in his own thoughts for a split second.
Harper said Canada must do more -- and needs to do more -- to help re-settle refugees, but he stuck to his message that Canada cannot walk away from the military mission against ISIS.
Alexander, meanwhile, appeared on CTV鈥檚 Power Play to discuss the issue.
The Conservatives have been criticized for not acting swiftly enough, for taking in as many refugees as other western countries in Europe have done.
Canada has pledged to re-settle about 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next four years, but the latest stats show only 2,300 people have been accepted.
Canada is also committed to settling 23,000 Iraqis, and have brought in 20,000 to date.
Harper has wanted to focus on the economy. But troubling events at home and abroad are forcing him off message.
But it appears the death of a young boy in Syria appears to have had the biggest impact of all.
