Within 48-hours Canadians will be going to the polls and candidates from all political stripes are making one final push to secure the votes they need to tip them over the top.
The latest polls show the NDP has made huge gains in public opinion, but suggest the Conservatives are still within striking distance of a majority government.
The Liberal Party enters the final days of the campaign struggling to keep the NDP from eating even further into its dwindling red base.
Because the election is so tight, every vote and every riding could make a difference so candidates are now working around the clock to convince voters they are the best candidates for the job.
Egmont Conservative Gail Shea held a wind-up rally at the Miscouche Recreation Centre last night.
The rally resembled a wedding dance. The room was dark. There were little twinkle lights around the stage. There was also live music provided by the cover band “The Curious.”
About 100 people were in attendance.
Shea spent most of her address listing off the communities that have received money since she’s been in office. She started in Tignish and named dozens and dozens of projects in various communities, ending in Summerside.
“Nobody can tell me that the Stephen Harper government hasn’t been good to Egmont,” said Shea, who received a standing ovation after making the comment.
Polls are open Monday from 8:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Polls don’t close in B.C. until 11 p.m. Atlantic, which means it could be a late night for Prince Edward Island residents if the race is as close as polls suggest.
On Thursday night, Cardigan Liberal Lawrence MacAulay held a wind-up rally at Vernon River Hall.
Liberal Bob Rae, who also attended events with Liberal candidates in Egmont, Malpeque and Charlottetown, joined him along with about 275 supporters.
During the rally, Rae made a bold prediction.
“Stephen Harper will not be the prime minister after the election May 2, of that I can assure you,” said Rae, Liberal candidate for Ottawa Centre.
“That will not happen.”
For his part, MacAulay said it’s a dangerous time politically, especially if Conservative Stephen Harper gets a majority government. He told those who attended his rally to work hard to get Liberal votes out to the polls on Monday.
Egmont Liberal Guy Gallant is planning a wind-up rally Saturday night at the Wellington Legion. Dominic LeBlanc, the Liberal candidate for Beausejour, New Brunswick will join Gallant at the rally.
The NDP’s best hopes for a breakthrough in Prince Edward Island is in Charlottetown.
Charlottetown NDP candidate Joe Byrne is hoping to ride the national wave of support for Jack Layton and the NDP right into the House of Commons.
Byrne held a wind-up rally Thursday evening at Timothy’s World Coffee in Charlottetown where people were pouring out of the University Avenue coffee shop.
There were about 140 in attendance.
“Our door-to-door numbers show that we are now winning,” said Byrne.
“So our final message at the door is simply to join us in victory, and to join Jack Layton’s government. I am telling everybody on the doorsteps that once elected, I will fight hard to immediately start training more doctors and nurses, be a strong advocate for small business owners, and work for higher minimum wages.”
(With files by The Canadian Press)
It's in there, reread.