British Columbia is two months from a provincial election and the opposition NDP has Premier Gordon Campbell in its sights.

"There are two directions we'll be taking in this election," NDP Leader Carole James said Saturday following a Vancouver speech to the party's provincial council.

"There is no question that this is a government run by Gordon Campbell," said James, who will try to form an NDP government for the first time since Campbell and the Liberal party won in 2001.

"It's a one-man show and everyone knows that, including the people in his caucus. So this election is about Gordon Campbell's leadership and what's missing in his leadership."

The top issues the NDP will focus on in the run-up to the election on May 12, a fixed date, include the economy and health care, she said.

"People are losing their jobs, seniors have lost their savings and are worried about their future."

James said voters will be making decisions after saying, "Who's going to make sure in these tough economic times that the things that matter to me are where our scarce tax dollars are going to be spent?"

The second major issue, said James, is health care, with a particular focus on the care seniors receive.

Finally, the party leader said the province has an "urban-rural divide," best exemplified by the beleaguered forest industry, that has prompted many mill closures and layoffs.

"We feel the impact of that all across our province," said James.

The election will also likely draw voters' attention to spending priorities, she said.

She said people want tax dollars spent on basics, not "fancy projects" like the recently announced $365 million facelift for BC Place Stadium, as well as hundreds of millions spent to prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

"It may not be as splashy to build care for seniors or to provide a good school for your kids as it is to put a fancy new roof on BC Place but it's the kind of thing that's important to the people of this province right now."