'Red Tory' leader won't appeal to conservatives: Wildrose

Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith believes the remaining three Tory leadership candidates will not appeal to true conservatives in Alberta.

Low numbers for right wing candidates Rick Orman and Ted Morton on Saturday's first ballot forced them to drop out of the race. Only Gary Mar, Alison Redford and Doug Horner garnered enough votes to advance to the second ballot on Oct. 1.

Smith says the views of Mar, Redford and Horner lean more towards the centre of the political spectrum, and will not appeal to voters looking for change.

"Now members have a choice between three red Tories and if you're trying to make the case to the public that this is the party of change, well they failed at that," Smith said.

"It's pretty clear to me and we knew this in Wildrose, that the conservatives have left the P.C.s, they have become disappointed with the direction they've taken over the last five to ten years and they're looking for a new alternative."

Mar emerged from the first ballot with 41 per cent of the vote. A cabinet minister under former premier Ralph Klein, Mar was Alberta's envoy in Washington, D.C. until he stepped down in March to run for party leader.

Redford, a lawyer by profession who resigned as justice minister in February to enter the leadership race, came in second place with 19 per cent of the vote.

Doug Horner, an Edmonton-area MLA and former deputy premier under Ed Stelmach, finished in third place with 14.5 per cent.

The winner will become Alberta premier when Stelmach steps down Oct. 1.