Vancouver Center Stage

The election race that's going to hold me riveted is taking place in Vancouver Center.

Nothing about this particular riding is gonna be boring, from the issues, to the candidates, to the final count -- and I think that may be close.

Michael Smyth, political columnist for the Province newspaper, does his best at a two-hour radio show on the Corus network, weekday evenings between 7:00pm and 9:00pm Pacific time -- hockey games permitting (and, sorry, Michael -- you could be the best political analyst in the world, but you're no broadcaster; would you please learn how to lead the timing so you don't end up cutting your guests off in mid-sentence because you've run out of time? Mini-rant over, and we now return you to regular programming).

Last night, he held a candidates' debate for the three major parties.

In the left corner: Hedy Fry, Liberal incumbent.

In the other left corner: Svend Robinson, NDP infant terrible.

In the right corner: um...um...(*psssst* gimme a hint!)...oh, yeah...Tony somebody...

It was a three-party party, but it was a two-party rant fest. Poor Tony was pretty much limited to trying to break into the conversation -- and at one point, trying to elicit an apology for an imagined insult. He didn't make much headway at all, at all.

Svend did talk about the incident with the ring.

Hedy did not talk about burning crosses on Prince George lawns.

Tony did not get to talk much at all.

I'm going out on a limb, here, and I'm gonna call it: Svend in a squeaker -- Hedy will be right behind him. If it were a hockey game, I'd be predicting a shoot-out (and it may be close enough for a recount, at that).

Beer and popcorn...must get beer and popcorn...