Liberal MP's ready to go to the poll (Canada) - politicswatch.com

[Screaming Lord Byron]

http://www.politicswatch.com/election-feb25-2004.htm

(PoliticsWatch posted February 25, 2004) OTTAWA - Liberal MPs put a brave face on as they left their caucus meeting on the same day reports appeared in the newspapers suggesting that some MPs have lobbied the party to put off a federal election for this spring while the sponsorship scandal swirls around them daily.

The game plan for Prime Minister Paul Martin all along was to introduce a throne speech, pass a few key pieces of legislation and table a pre-election budget before calling an election in April while he was still in the midst of his honeymoon period with the media and the public.

But the sponsorship scandal appeared to change all that, with Liberal polling numbers dropping 12 points to 36 per cent, below what is needed for a majority government.

However, media reports suggest that the early spring election may still be in the works, as the Liberals hope to catch the Tories flatfooted a few weeks after they select their new leader and to avoid any bombs that could come from two public inquiries which could delve into the inner workings of the Liberal Party.

All MPs who stopped to talk to reporters after the caucus meeting said that they were ready for a spring election.