Culling the Liberal herd in BC

The front runners continue to jockey for the pole position in the upcoming Liberal leadership in British Columbia, but back at the rear of the pack the candidates are dropping off at a quick march these days.

With the polling numbers and recognition factor in decline, a pair of Liberal hopefuls have admitted that their cause while just is apparently lost and so we bid farewell to the campaigns of Dr. Moira Stillwell and Vancouver Island's Ed Mayne.

That leaves four remaining candidates left to ambitiously take to the podium following next Saturday's leadership vote, George Abbott, Christy Clark, Mike de Jong and Kevin Falcon.

While the lower polling candidates folded their tents, both candidates Abbott and Falcon were busy scooping up support from cabinet ministers and MLA's, with Liberal members quick to try and park their support with the candidate that they believe will arrive atop the vote count on the 26th.

Both ready to galvanize their supporters for a day long festival of political intrigue that would appear to be shaping up to be one of party insiders banding together to challenge the campaign of Christy Clark and providing the impression that Mr. de Jong to ponder where he might want to move his support on the pivotal voting day.

Some of the reviews of the departures and the build up to the vote next weekend can be found below.


Vancouver Sun-- Abbott confident he will be one of two names on final ballot
Vancouver Sun-- Gloves are off, but winner is undecided
Vancouver Sun-- 'Genial George' goes negative
Vancouver Province-- Another for Abbot as Ed Mayne drops leadership bid
Vancouver Province-- Stillwell backs Abbot, Mayne to follow
Vancouver Province-- Abbott bandwagon gets more crowded
Vancouver Province-- Abbott strikes back at Clark as leadership race heats up
Vancouver Province-- 'Nothing wrong with questioning Christy's positions, says Abbott
Vancouver Province-- Voting rules a big relief for Abbott
Victoria Times-Colonist-- Stilwell has plenty of ideas to share
Victoria Times-Colonist-- Voting change gives Abbott more hope
Victoria Times-Colonist-- Clark's health-care cap plan draws fire
Globe and Mail-- Mayne drops out of BC Liberal leadership race, endorses Abbott
Globe and Mail-- Clark scorns rivals' 'backroom deals'
Globe and Mail-- For the other candidates, it’s all about stopping Christy Clark
The Tyee-- BC Liberal leadership field likely to narrow further
The Tyee-- Mayne out of Liberal leadership race, supports Abbott
The Tyee-- Stillwell supports Abbott, Falcom Abbott's second choice
The Tyee-- Two more cabinet ministers throw support to Falcon