Big Tory vote to be held on Saturday

As Tory party members prepare to cast a ballot for a new leader Saturday, candidates are fighting for voters' attention and talking about the potential of a second round of voting.

Polls open at 9 a.m. Saturday and anyone with a $5 party membership can cast a vote.

New figures show that more than 50,000 Alberta Conservative memberships have been sold leading up to the vote, less than half of what party officials originally hoped to sell.

All eight candidates have been crisscrossing the province, holding meetings, rallies and events in the final days trying to squeeze out every last vote.

Soon, every campaign will be burning up the phone lines, using call centres to blitz supporters and convince non-party members to get out and vote.

"The strategy is to reconnect with everybody we've talked to over the past two years," said former MLA Mark Norris.

"We've set up teams all around the province with volunteers and we just want them to know that we are in this to win."

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Ed Stelmach, who is travelling the province in a bus, said he's disappointed with the number of memberships sold so far, but he thinks many more will be sold at the polls.

"I was pleasantly surprised that a lot of people came to the advance polls without memberships and wanted to register their votes, so we'll see how many individuals like that we draw on Saturday."

Candidates consider second vote

While the vote is Saturday, candidates are already thinking about the potential of a second vote the following weekend.

Ifone of the eight candidates doesn't capture more than 50 per cent of the votes, the top three will square off the following Saturday.

Norris is alreadytalking about supporting rookie MLATed Morton, for speaking his mind.

"Other candidates have flip flopped all over the map. I don't think that's leadership," he said. "What I am looking for in someone who isn't me is somebody who actually has a true north."

Edmonton-Whitemud MLA Dave Hancock said he's thought about the second ballot, but won't say who he would support if he doesn't make the top three.

"There was discussion of that before this thing even got started. Bottom line is everyone is looking to see where they are on Saturday."