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Party leaders say they’ll be working until the last minute

Apr 3, 2016 | 8:15 AM

The two leading parties in the provincial election say they’ll be working right up until the last minute they can.

Saskatchewan Party leader, Brad Wall, spoke to media in Moose Jaw on Saturday.

He repeated the point he’s been making through the campaign, that he thinks the election is about the economy.

“Towards the end of the campaign … the focus of the electorate has been more on the ballot question, which I think in this election is, who’s got the best plan for the economy.”

As for the campaign itself, Wall said he’s been feeling the momentum pick up since the leaders’ debate.

“My opponent might have been, maybe even a bit too aggressive during (the debate). Maybe that’s one of the reasons, but we just have sensed that post the debate we’ve been able to pick up some momentum.”

A poll was released on Friday, pegged the Sask. Party as having a big lead over the NDP, but Wall isn’t going to take it for granted.

“Political history in this country, and in North America, is rich with stories of last minute changes … it is not over until the buzzer. It’s not over until Monday at 8 o’clock, and we have to go right to the end,” said Wall.

THE NDP

The NDP’s leader, Cam Broten, continued a last-minute sprint across the province on Saturday. He was planning to visit 16 constituencies in and around Regina, that’s after he said he visited 18 constituencies on Friday.

“It’s been just fantastic being out on doorsteps, meeting with Saskatchewan people and hearing what their concerns are,” said Broten at a stop at a campaign office in Regina’s east end.

He ran through the familiar talking points on his platform about making changes to help families and cutting Sask. Party waste to a crowded room. 

Broten said he’s focused and energized as heads into the last hours before election day. And though the most recent polls weren’t favouring him, he didn’t seem worried.

“I’ll leave the pundits, the journalists, and those to make the predictions. What I’m focused on is working flat out between now and election day to get a result that is actually good for Saskatchewan.”

Broten said his teams are working hard, and are seeing people who are motivated and want to get out to vote.

ADVANCED VOTING

Voters certainly seem keen to cast their ballots.

After the fourth day of advanced polls on Friday, 87,409 people had voted – that’s 20,807 more people than cast ballots in all five days of advanced voting in 2011’s provincial election.

lschick@cjme.com

On Twitter: @LMSchickler