[killer_carlson]

this question will come down to (as has been identified by some in the media):

Do you want a coalition government of left of center parties?

If Ignatief doesn't come out and say that he'll do a coalition, it will dog him the entire campaign. If he does, then he'll be dogged about each policy announcement or platform of the NDP and how that fits with his party's.

If the Canadian public is ok with having Bob rae and Jack Layton rubbing their greedy hands above the public purse strings, then Igantief will be Prime Minister. If they prefer to have Harper ignoring basically all of the procedural rules in the interest of getting things done, then it will be a Harper majority.

That's the choice.

A bigger question I have is what will each of the PC candidates to replace Stelmach are prepared to do if the NDP Coalition comes after Alberta oil in the guise of a carbon tax or environmental levy?