By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 3, 2003
Eves Calls the Election
Premier Ernie Eves is hoping that Ontarians will give him an election mandate on Oct. 2 but is facing an uphill battle against the Liberal Party after two controversial terms of Progressive Conservative government.
Mr. Eves, who served six years as deputy premier and finance minister under former Tory leader Mike Harris, was selected by the party in the early spring of 2002 but held off on calling an election until Tuesday.
The most recent poll for The Globe and Mail by Ipsos-Reid showed it will be an uphill struggle for Mr. Eves against the Liberals and their leader, Dalton McGuinty. Sixty per cent of those polled last month said they thought it was time for a change.
In a speech launching his campaign, Mr. McGuinty acknowledged that he has “been waiting for this for a long time,” adding: “I have never felt more confident, more experienced, more determined, more ready to get on with this.”
Mr. Eves alluded to his electoral difficulties by spicing his campaign announcement with a host of attacks on Mr. McGuinty.