Liberals and PCs target message to strategic voters

The leaders of the Liberal and PC parties appealed to Nova Scotians on the eve of the provincial election to votestrategically.

In Port Hood, Liberal LeaderStephen McNeil,who is leading in public opinion polls,was blunt on behalf of Inverness Liberal candidate Bobby Morris.

"There is a second Liberal majority government sitting out there," McNeil told a crowd of Liberal supporters Monday.

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The incumbent in Inverness is Progressive Conservative Allan MacMaster.

"The people of Inverness are going to have decide, do they want a member in the government or outside of it," said McNeil.

The appeal was directed at voters in western Cape Breton, but could have just as easily been meant for voters in other rural ridings where government MLAs rightly or wrongly are seen as better able to secure provincial government money for projects like road improvements.

In Dartmouth, PC Leader Jamie Baillierepeated his strategic appeal to undecided voters and supporters of the New Democratic Party.

"It's pretty clear now, only the PCs can replace the McNeil government," Baillie said at the campaign office of Dartmouth East candidate Tim Halman.

In the Halifax neighbourhood of Armdale, NDP candidate David Wheeler scoffed at Baillie's appeal.

"In this riding, it's a straight race really between us and the Liberal incumbent, so tactical voting won't necessarily change the result in favour of the [Progressive] Conservatives. So,we would always say vote [with] your conscience," he said.