The pressure is on Shawn Graham to win the New Brunswick election if he wants to remain Liberal leader, says a political observer.
In the 2003 election, the Liberals came very close to unseating the Progressive Conservatives, winning 26 seats. The Tories formed the government with 28.
Don Desserud, a political science professor at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, said Graham needs to improve on that result this time around.
A political observer says Shawn Graham must win this election if he wants to remain Liberal leader.
"He came so close last time. The bar is now set at a win or I think he'll have some real problems once this is over," said Desserud.
Don Mills, president and CEO of the polling firm Corporate Research Associates, said the election race is too close to call, and it could come down to "leader appeal."
"Leadership is always an important issue ... particularly one that's likely to be very, very close and may be decided by a seat or two," said Mills. "The difference will be in people's confidence of the leader I believe, and so this campaign as most campaigns are in the end are about choice of leaders."
New Brunswickers go to the polls on Sept. 18.
| Party | Elected | Leading | Total | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIB | 29 | 0 | 29 | 47.10% |
| PC | 26 | 0 | 26 | 47.50% |
| NDP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.10% |
| OTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | .20% |
| Last Update:September 19, 1:13:13 AM ADT | ||||