July heats up Ottawa South byelection campaign

The riding of Ottawa Southwas a stronghold of the McGuinty family for the last 26 years, but a recent poll has the Progressive Conservatives aheadand that's put the heat on both parties as they began to gear up forthe Aug. 1 byelection.

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Matt Young, 34, is running for the Ontario PC Party and his office was in his garage as of Wednesday. He saidhe would move his headquarters to a larger building by week's end.

John Fraser, meanwhile,worked as Dalton McGuinty's executive assistant for 14 years and is nowhoping to replace his boss. He has a larger team behind him and some see him as the favourite, despite the poll numbers.

The NDP will nominate a candidate on Saturdaybut local school board trustee Bronwyn Funiciello put her name into the hat on Wednesday, joining Wali Farah.

The Green Party will be represented by Taylor Howarth, a recent graduate and current employee at Saint Paul University. Howarth said the underdog role she plays is important, calling her role in the race one that counters the "big machine mentality" of the other parties.

Watch more in the video report above from the CBC's Jamie Long.

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