MARKHAM — The province’s Progressive Conservatives went back to the future yesterday, choosing Tim Hudak to lead them into the 2011 election.
The Niagara-area MPP swept past Frank Klees on the third ballot to clinch the job.
The youngest candidate, Hudak, 41, led the race from the start. Some say he’s been running for the party leadership ever since former premier Mike Harris stepped down in 2001.
Hudak’s biggest problem now will be to shake the shadow of the former premier. First elected in the Tory sweep of 1995, he served in Harris’ cabinet as well as that of his successor, Ernie Eves.
Hudak’s wife, Deb Hutton, was a key strategist in Harris’ office and Harris one of Hudak’s biggest supporters in this campaign.
The Liberals quickly put Hudak on the offensive. Attorney General Chris Bentley was at the Tory bunfight. Hudak hadn’t even finished his acceptance speech before Bentley’s aide put out a news release calling him a “Harris wannabe.”
In an interview later, Bentley said Hudak was running “for Harris’ third term.”
Well, let me think. Is that a bad thing? When Harris was premier, half a million jobs were created. We were still a have province. Now we’re hemorrhaging jobs and are revelling in our new have-not status.
While the Tories were giddy at electing a new leader, they have some tough tasks ahead.
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“While the Tories were giddy at electing a new leader, they have some tough tasks ahead.”
Actually, they don’t Chris.
McShifty has as the “pile on” begins..
The Liberals and other leftards have spent a great deal of time, rhetoric and resources trying to convince the residents of Ontario (and anyone else who’ll listen) that Mike Harris was the incarnation of evil. I expect the anti-Harris rhetoric will be cranked up and will continue through to the next election.
Hudak can deal with this a couple of different ways. Harris is still around and articulate as ever. Let him sell his Common Sense Revolution again… with the benefit of hindsight…