Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal leader canvassed Monday for support in two districts that have been traditional strongholds for the party.
Party leader Gerry Reid toured Port de Grave and Bellevue districts, which have been held for decades by Liberals.
Voters in Bellevue have elected only Liberals — and, once, a Liberal Reform candidate who later left the breakaway party — since its creation in 1975.
Denise Pike, considered a star candidate in the Liberal ranks, took her campaign to a nursing home in Arnold's Cove.
Pike has already had a sharp exchange with Progressive Conservative candidate Calvin Peach, who was accused of turning her health — particularly her fight with breast cancer — into an issue.
Pike is seeking to replace Percy Barrett, who has represented Bellevue since 1989.
"There's a tremendous amount of respect for Percy Barrett in Bellevue district and I'm honoured to continue the legacy he has put in place," Pike said.
The Liberals acknowledge that Bellevue and Port de Grave, the district where former Liberal cabinet minister John Efford was once accustomed to the highest electoral majorities, will not be easy victories.
Liberal incumbent Roland Butler, who has represented the seat since Efford left provincial politics in 2001, told supporters he is almost flattered that the PCs have identified Port de Grave as a vulnerable seat.
"Premier Williams made it very clear there were five people on his hit list. Luckily I was supposed to be one of them," said Butler, who is squaring off against PC Glenn Littlejohn, the mayor of Bay Roberts.
"I want to say to Premier Williams tonight that Roland Butler will be here on Oct. 10."
The Liberals headed into the campaign far behind the governing PCs in public opinion polls.
Reid pre-emptively launched the Liberal campaign on Sunday in St. John's, by releasing a platform that emphasized rural issues.
Reid said the Liberals, who held 11 seats when the house of assembly was dissolved on Monday, will be fighting to hold on to districts they hold, as well as make inroads in Tory territory.
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- Complacency bigger threat than Liberals, Williams tells PCs
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| Party | Elected | Leading | Total | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | 43 | 0 | 43 | 69.56% |
| LIB | 3 | 0 | 3 | 21.98% |
| NDP | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8.21% |
| OTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | .25% |
| Last Update:October 9, 10:58:12 PM NDT | ||||
| Unofficial results were updated at the time shown. For more recent results, visit Elections NL. The CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. External links will open in a new window. |
NL Votes 2007 »
- Williams faces daunting task of managing expectations
- Handed one of the most commanding mandates in Newfoundland and Labrador's history, Premier Danny Williams says he expects to face a cascade of requests for help during his second term.
- Former minister calls Liberal collapse 'catastrophic'
- Able to put their combined caucuses around a single card table, Newfoundland and Labrador's opposition parties are grappling with what life will be like in the shadow of a massive Tory majority.
- Efford keeping keen eye on Liberal leadership
- Former cabinet minister John Efford didn't hesitate Wednesday to indicate he is more than interested in taking over the reins of Newfoundland and Labrador's bedraggled Liberals.
- Williams leads Tory landslide in N.L.
- Danny Williams and his Progressive Conservatives were swept back into office Tuesday night by a massive lead over their political opponents.
- Heartbreak for Liberals as Grit vote collapses
- Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberals were overwhelmed Tuesday night, as a Tory wave of support claimed districts that had long been in the Grit camp.