Positioning is much different than strategy. Positioning is making sure you are in the right spot when things come your way. Layton and the NDP can also be seen to have been about as well positioned as they could be. When positioned you are then in place if things bounce your way.
As for the Conservatives gaining government
The massively strong in the polls Martin couldn't decide what he wanted to do once he gained the PMship -that's not strategy that's luck
Martin, like a fool, let the sponsorship scandal define him, rather than anything that might be seen as new. Chretien would never have made that mistake - ineffective Liberal leader continually pushing the story of the scandal - the luckiest, luck ever
Let's review the actual trend the election that brought Harper to power. Pre-Christmas Martin and the Liberals are leading and seem to be on the verge of gaining government, perhaps even strength- then along comes the intervention by the RCMP in the election turning things on a dime - that's either luck or collusion.
Matin steps down and the Liberals elect the weakest of all the candidates, well ignoring Volpe - no strategy in that - just luck
Instead of growing in the position Dion actually gets worse and worse - culminating in a disasterously run election campaign- even a mid-wieght Liberal leader could have made a difference with a Canadian electrate that clearly does not want Harper with a majority- no strategy involved - just continued good luck thanks to poor Liberal decision making.
Then we get a completly scared and ineffectual GG - no strategy there either.
Now if your argument Benjamin had been about high skill in positioning that would be different. The Conservatives have shown themselves to be very good at that - but strategic masters- no way
