Election night in Nova Scotia could bring changes in 6 ridings

Six Nova Scotia ridings look likechange is guaranteed butthe winner is still to be determined.

The Liberals look poised to win a fewand claim they're the only party competitivein all six.

• What you need to know to vote Monday

Cumberland-Colchester

Much has changed over the course of the 11-week campaign, but the contest between Conservative Scott Armstrong and former Conservative MPBill Casey, now a Liberal, remains the marquee grudge match in Nova Scotia.

Since 1988 Casey has run and won as a Progressive Conservative, Conservativeand as an independent. In 2008 he took an astonishing 69 per centof the vote as an independent.

That wasafter Stephen Harper kicked him out of the Conservative caucus for voting against a budget that altered the Atlantic Accord, which guaranteed federal funding to the province.

• Liberals, Tories battle it out in Cumberland-Colchester riding

Armstrong was the riding association president at the time. He had served as Casey's campaign manager. After Casey retired, Armstrong stepped in and wastwice elected as a Conservative member of Parliament.

Casey is back in the game,running for the Liberals andagainst Stephen Harper, he says. His campaign signs urge voters to send Harper a message by voting for Casey.

New Democrat Wendy Robinson has said she is concerned some of the NDP base is voting for Casey to hurt Stephen Harper.

Central Nova

Next door in Central Nova,long-time MP Peter MacKay has been trying to persuade voters to elect Conservative Party stafferFred DeLorey to replace him.

With one brief exception, Central Nova has been a MacKay family dynasty for 40 years, first represented by Elmer MacKay and since 1997 by his son, Peter.

• Liberals, NDP say Central Nova wants change in Peter MacKay's absence

Liberal Sean Fraser argues it was more of a MacKay riding thana Stephen Harper Conservative riding.

Early in the campaign, one poll gave Fraser the lead, butanother put DeLorey ahead.

Saturday morning, former LiberalPrime Minister Jean Chrtienis goingto Central Nova to help Fraser, a Calgary lawyer, whois hoping to return home as a member of Parliament.

The outcome could be affected byhow New Democrat Ross Landry, a former Nova Scotia justice minister,does. Here the original Conservative game plan of vote splitting between the Liberals and the NDP helps DeLorey's chances.

West Nova

Well before their prospects started improving on the national stage, Liberals were confident aboutwinning in West Nova with Yarmouth lawyer Colin Fraser. The rural farming and fishing riding traditionally swings Liberal or Conservative.

• Liberals eye West Nova riding after Greg Kerr does not re-offer

West Novais another Nova Scotia riding where a Conservative incumbent has not re-offered. InsteadConservative Arnold LeBlanc is trying to succeed two term MP Greg Kerr, for whom LeBlancworked as an assistant for the last six years.

The NDP have been fading as a force in the riding over the last three elections.Greg Foster is the NDP candidate for West Nova.

South Shore-St. Margaret's

This riding has75,000 voters, the most of any Nova Scotia riding.

Italso has one of the youngest candidates: 23-year-old Richard Clark, another political assistant. He is trying to keepa Conservative stronghold represented byGerald Keddy since 1997.

• Opposition parties eye traditionally Conservative riding of South Shore-St. Margaret's

With Keddy out and a mood for change, both Liberal Bernadette Jordan and New Democrat AlexGodboldsee opportunity.

Dartmouth-Cole Harbour

Going into the election, the NDP hold three of four urban ridings in the Halifax area.

Based on 2011 results, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour New Democrat Robert Chisholm appears to be the most vulnerable. He beat Liberal Mike Savage by less than 500 votes last time.

• NDP fight to hang on to Dartmouth-Cole Harbour riding

Party leader Tom Mulcair visited the riding this week to charge up the troops.

Liberals say their best chance in the metro Halifax areais Darren Fisher, a municipal councilor running in this riding.

Halifax

Liberals say it's no coincidence that party leader Justin Trudeau is holding a campaign rallyin Halifax Saturday morning. This is his Nova Scotia stop on a final cross-Canada tour.

They're saying this isa sign Liberal candidate Andy Fillmorein Halifaxhas a chance to upset Megan Leslie, the NDP's deputy leader.

• NDP have represented Halifax since 1997 and the incumbent is trying to hold onto seat

Leslie admits Fillmore is a strong candidate, but says she thought her Liberal opponent in 2011 was also a strong candidate. Shebeat him by12,000 votes taking 52 per cent of the vote overall.

The campaignhas been an ordeal for Leslie on a personal level. She has had to leave the riding to be atthe hospital bedside of her ill mother in Ontario.

Monday will show whether Liberal hopes here are hype or the final stage of a Liberal wave in Nova Scotia.