Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Vail
Funny, I didn't see it that way.
I saw that the debate reinforced how badly Alberta needs a change in government and I would think many voters would have a more difficult time than ever voting PC.
|
Well ultimatelty the reason why we're even voting now as opposed to later is because Stelmach read the tea-leaves and realized that the PC ship in its current form is a sinking ship. He feels that he might as well cash in on its residual support now, which will probably still give him a slight majority and spend the next 5 years enjoying power. The reason why he'll still get a majority is that the Liberals and NDP still feature the same hapless leadership that lost them elections in the past and the Wildrose Alliance hasn't had enough time to mature and get a leader or candidates that aren't far too young and inexperienced to vote for or too religiously based. Had the Alliance been given another year to get their affairs in order they could have vote-split with the PCs and have the Libs come up the middle.
Should it play out this way the Liberals will turf Taft and either grab on to Bronconnier or Mandel as their new leader and grab power away from the PCs with a slate of more centrist candidates that speak more to the Urban fiscal conservative but socially liberal voters in the next election (Which will feature more urban ridings due to the 2006 census being used to decide boundaries instead of the 2001 census).