Race to replace Ralph as Premier of Alberta

[Tom Sindlinger]

Money ─ maybe it's obvious and crass, but that's what it will take to win the Leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta. Not policy, not character ─ just money, and lots of it. I'd guess about $3 million. And at this level, that means Misters Bronconnier, Dinning, and Manning, in that order.

Money enables organization, which means identifying supporters and making sure they get out to vote.

Eventually Misters Oberg, Stelmach, and Hancock will drop out of the race; hopefully, before they fruitlessly spend too much of their own money. Mr. Norris will stay to the end as "an Edmonton voice".

My predictions of how they will finish in the race to replace Ralph are at www.sindlinger.ca What are your predictions?

Cheers....Tom

[Black Dog]

Bronco's not gonna run. He's got a sweet gig right now, no way he's giving that up. Besides, if he jumped to the provincial level, who the hell would he have to complain about?

[Biblio Bibuli]

Bronco's not gonna run. He's got a sweet gig right now, no way he's giving that up. Besides, if he jumped to the provincial level, who the hell would he have to complain about?

"It's very kind to be considered, but I'll be running for mayor 555 days from today,'' Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier said.

If Preston Manning enters the race he will win. And that's a fact!!

[FTA Lawyer]

I too believe that if Manning wants the job he will get it. He is higher-profile than any of the other hopefuls, and has all of the experience and organization abilities that are so important as noted above. I'm just not sure he wants it...it would be sort of like taking a consolation prize while Harper got the real trophy.

As an aside, I would amend the byline of the topic a bit...in this Province, whomever replaces Ralph will automatically be Priemier for a decade, not just the year until the next election.

FTA

[geoffrey]

I think people will back down from the Manning support. More people are PC's than Reformers in this province, and I personally am less comfortable with Manning in charge by the day.

I voted National Affairs as the primary issue. With the recent push by Quebec to take even more from Alberta to fund their socialist paradise, I think this will become very hot button indeed if Harper actually attempts to relocate some funds.

[fellowtraveller]

Manning will win fairly easily IMO.

Personality is always the deciding factor......and Preston is perceived as an honest broker and a man of some vision. His age is a bit of a handicap, at 63 he is the same as klein.

Dinnings very best and very worst day happened recently at the same time - when he helped engineer Kleins ouster, followed soon after by Mannings musings about leadership....