Carleton was Poilievre’s riding to lose. When he did, it came as a shock to many [Video]

The startling upset for Conservatives and their leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost the Ottawa-area riding he’d held for nearly 21 years to a Liberal newcomer, had local voters buzzing the morning after.

By the time Carleton’s giant ballots were counted, Carleton’s MP-elect Bruce Fanjoy had garnered about 51 per cent of the vote to Poilievre’s 46 per cent.

Residents of the rural Ottawa riding who spoke with CBC News on Tuesday offered a variety of reactions and theories about why Poilievre had been ousted.

Michelle Cole said U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada’s economy and sovereignty definitely played a role.

“Nothing against Poilievre, but the way Canada’s going, you can imagine that a lot of people were voting the same way in this riding,” she said.

“I feel bad for him because he has all the experience,” Cole added. “He’s done a great job — it’s just everybody is so on this anti-American kick that it was …