Liberals bow out of Super Bowl clash

The B.C. Liberals are on a losing streak.

The party, which ruled B.C. for 16 years before losing a confidence vote this summer to the NDP and Green party, planned to announce its new leader on Feb. 4 at a convention in Vancouver.

That date happens to be Super Bowl Sunday.

After taking criticism, the Liberals called an audible Wednesday. The party said its new leader will now be announced Saturday, Feb. 3, after three days of voting online and by telephone.

Political commentator Norman Spector was one of the critics of the original date, suggesting on Twitter the Liberals were conceding “the jock vote” to the NDP and Green party.

Province columnist Mike Smyth tweeted that the original choice of date was “super dumb.”

Former premier Christy Clark triggered the leadership contest when she stepped down as both party leader and a member of the legislature.

— THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The B.C. Liberals need a new leader after Christy Clark stepped down, and they now plan to choose one on the day before the Super Bowl.