Stelmach got what he wanted, 77.4 % support. Honestly though the big winner was in Calgary.
The Wildrose Alliance was happy to sit on the sidelines during the PC leadership review. However, you know they are smiling now. A tepid review for Stelmach leaves him in and disastified Tories swimming against the current.
Guy Boutilier however has a critical choice. Stay as an independent and hope to win the nomination again as a PC candidate or cross over for good.
I think he needs to cross the floor, but to do that he needs to bring his constituency association with him. With that type of move it would be a good thing to go to the Wildrose Alliance. I think he would be able to make a meaningful contribution if he wanted.
Meanwhile for Smith this should bring some more people across in the south and continue to build the party. No matter how you look at it this tepid support for Ed allows the Wildrose to continue to paint the government into a corner. Now everything is clear and 2012 is the goal. No doubt that is where they are focused.
For Ed tonight is decent news but he still will have to prove himself. This is a reprieve not a ringing endorsement.
Tags: Danielle Smith, Ed Stelmach, Guy Boutilier, Tories, Wildrose Alliance
