Newfoundland & Labrador battlegrounds

Part of a series on Atlantic ridings

Avalon (currently Conservative)
Danny Williams will loom very heavily over Conservative efforts in Atlantic Canada, but that loom will be total darkness in Newfoundland & Labrador. In Avalon we see the only incumbent Tory (Fabian Manning) to even bother to reoffer. Manning and Williams have a long history of disagreements and Williams will likely use his popularity to crush Manning. The fact that this is traditionally a Liberal riding will not help either. Likely Liberal gain.

Random—Burin—St. George's (currently Liberal) *incumbent retiring
Former PCer-turned-Liberal Bill Matthews is not seeking a fourth term. The Conservatives, thanks to Williams, but also thanks to the riding's history probably don't have a shot here. However, in 2004, the NDP ran Fr. Des McGrath who got a respectable 33% and second place. The NDP campaign will likely be putting some resouces into helping elect Jack Harris (more on that later) and if the NDP candidate can capitalize on McGrath's past showing they could have shot here. For now though, it seems a likely Liberal hold.

St. John's East (currently Conservative) *incumbent retiring
Former NDP MP and provincial NDP leader Jack Harris almost certainly has the upper hand here. The Tory MP is retiring, Harris will likely be the choice of Danny Williams and Harris is very well regarded across Newfoundland but particularly in St. John's. This seat is, at least, a lean NDP gain.

St. John's South—Mount Pearl (currently Conservative) *incumbent retiring
Is the third time the charm for Siobhán Coady? After running close races in 2004 and 2006, Coady is hoping for a ticket to Ottawa. The retirement of Loyola Hearn would probably been enough on its own but the anti-Harper campaign of Danny Williams should make it comfortable. I call this a likely Liberal gain.

NL: CPC -3, Lib +2, NDP +1