Premier bracing herself for ugly campaign
Posted Mar 23, 2012 8:21 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Speaking to reporters in the legislature Thursday, Premier Alison Redford says she’s ready for what many expect will be a nasty campaign.
Redford says she began thinking about the election back in Christmas and has done her best to prepare her family ahead of time.
It’s expected the Premier will visit with the Lieutenant Governor over the weekend to dissolve the House and call an election.
Analysts are expecting that election call could come as soon as Monday.
Mount Royal Political Scientist David Taras tells 660News the gloves will come off in this race.
He says this is the first real time the Premier has faced a threat from the right, with money.
“This is going to be a rough and tumble election, rock’em, sock’em style,” says Taras. “I think there’s a lot at stake in terms of the pride and the leadership of the parties.”
“And I think what they want to do in this election, is just crush them,” he explains. “So they don’t have a party that can contend with them for power four years from now.”
In the meantime opposition parties say something needs to change and they are fuming over the millions of dollars spent over March in advance of the election call.
NDP Leader Brian Mason tells the Calgary Sun “It’s pretty clear this government is prepared to bribe people with their own money before an election.”
Taras however says spending money in advance of a race is nothing new to Alberta politics.
“That’s part of the scenario, you clear the decks and make sure you’re relationship with powerful interest groups is not going to come and bite you during an election,” he says.
Opposition members say it’s been part and practice of the Conservative ideology for so long, they believe it’s ok.
