Perfect political storm pushes to PC majority
For Wakeham, a series of dominos needed to fall, one by one, for his Progressive Conservatives to win this election.
A campaign of pocketbook and public safety promises – crime, health care, cost of living – resonating at the ballot box.
Vote splits all going their way, to eke out relatively narrow wins in targeted pickups across rural Newfoundland and Labrador, in defiance of public-opinion polls.
Holding off high-profile Liberal challengers to PC incumbents, especially in the metro suburbs, while picking off seats vacated by departing Liberal heavyweights.
Check, check, check.
The Tories hit the magic number of 21 seats to earn a majority, while winning a popular vote margin of less than one point – 44.3 per cent to 43.5 per cent.
As for what comes next: Wakeham’s party, while attacking the MOU with Quebec, made a lot of big-money promises during the campaign. The major ones include significant health care and public safety plans. Voters will be watching what they do with this majority.
