TORONTO, June 27 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Shocked at a stunning loss in the first round of the Canadian Alliance leadership contest, Preston Manning’s camp has gone on attack mode against Stockwell Day. Manning’s top advisors Rick Anderson and Nancy Branscombe both hurled personal remarks at Day, characterizing him as a “disaster” and having “baggage” for his social conservatism on life and family issues. Surprisingly, even Preston Manning himself entered the fray saying, “Who can hold the Alliance together and expand it? Who is the builder of alliances? I am a person who can get people together rather than polarize them … Who is the candidate most like to polarize fiscal and social conservatives?”
Day expressed disappointment at the attack strategy saying, “I just don’t think Preston would encourage anything that would be divisive.” Referring to social conservative issues, Day said, “I don’t know that our views do differ greatly.”
Most surprisingly, pro-life Alliance MP Eric Lowther also slammed Day, saying that with his leadership, “we could drive a wedge right down the middle of the party and cause real problems.” Alliance MP Jason Kenney, Mr. Day’s campaign co-chair, responded: “If anyone is driving a wedge, it is the people making divisive comments. If people are concerned about wedge-driving and they’re talking publicly about it, they should take a look in the mirror.”
Meanwhile Day has set his sights on the Liberal government and supporting Alliance MP’s have offered their seats so that Day could take over as Leader of the Opposition as soon as possible. Numerous supporters of the Tom Long campaign have switched their support to Day.