Eve Adams makes inroads in heated Conservative nomination race

The controversy surrounding Eve Adams and her fianc's tumultuous departure from one of the Conservative Party's top jobs doesn't appear to be hurting her chances to win a rambunctious nomination race in the newly created riding of Oakville North-Burlington.

Sources tell CBC News that Adams's campaign team has sold more than three times the memberships thanher rival, chiropractor Natalia Lishchyna. Even the people who are working to defeat Adams in the nomination raceare grudginglyadmitting she has a significant lead.

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The deadline for signing up new members eligible to vote for the party nomination passed last week.

Soudasmade the nomination battle his full-time job after he was fired by the party in March following a dramatic confrontation with senior party officialsover using his position to advance Adams's nomination bid.

Soudas and Adams were in Burlington campaigning Thursday.

"The race is extremely tight and every vote counts," Soudas told CBC News.

When asked about Adams's lead in the racehe said, "It's not how many memberships you sell, it's about getting those members out to vote."

Thenomination race has been heated, hostileand nasty from the beginning.

Lishchyna'scampaigncomplained Adams was improperly usingprivate information from the party's database to help win the nomination.

Riding association president Mark Fedakalleged Adams was verbally abusive at a March 19 riding meeting andsent a letter detailing the allegations to Prime Minister Stephen Harperand copied it to all Ontario ConservativeMPs. Harper askedthe party to investigate the allegations.

He also called Adams into his office and instructed her to focuson her current positionas a member of Parliamentfor Mississauga-Brampton South and on her role as parliamentary secretary to the minister of health.

In the end, Conservative Party officials rebuked Adams over her aggressive tactics but permitted herto run, so long as she stayed within the rules, including spending limits.

Two weeks ago, Lishchynaaccused Adams of vastly overspending in the campaign.

The candidates will get a chance to address the local membership at a meeting on May 22, with the deciding vote held on May 24.