No doubt in my mind that Smith would've had a majority. After 18 years, people wanted a change, even Tory politicians acknowledged that. I think the Lib Dems may have gotten a few extra seats because I don't think Smith would've gotten a Blair-like majority.
Would John Smith have been a good campaigner, harsh enough, strong enough ?
Remember 1997 election wasn't a snap election, so campaign began longer before it did in 1987 or 2001 or 2005.
Smith was okay. He wasn't young and dynamic like Blair, but he was a good campaigner and was quite popular in Britain. He was one of the Labour moderates like Hattersley, but to the left of Blair and right of Kinnock.