PC's hurt by late campaign
Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 29/00) - For the Progressive Conservative party in the NWT, a late campaign start resulted in a painful end.
Although party leader Bruce McLaughlin had no regrets over his performance during the campaign, his party may have paid the price in converting voters.
"I think, if I had made my mind firmly in my own head to be the candidate two or three weeks earlier than I did, it would have made a big difference," admitted McLaughlin.
"Picking a candidate 10 days into the election after writ's drop, makes it really difficult," he said.
The candidate also blamed other factors for playing a role in his defeat -- the lack of money needed for advertising and travelling expenses.
"But, even with money in such a short election notice, it would have been physically impossible to go into every community," he said, in response to his low campaign profile.
Another concern was the PC's national status, during election night. As the evening progressed, his mind was focused on the 12 seats the party needed to be recognized by the House of Commons.
Then, when 12 seats were reported on the television, an eruption of victory was heard by the dozen PC supporters downstairs at the Yellowknife Inn. For campaign manager Cheryl Walker, McLaughlin made the best of a bad situation with limited time and resources at hand during his campaign.
"Because of his (McLaughlin's) knowledge, fortunately we were able to carry things as far as we did," she said.
"I'm not disappointed in the fact that I ran...but, I'm disappointed that I didn't do as well in Yellowknife and Hay River as I hoped I would," McLaughlin.
