Casey Conquers
Long-time MP elected under Liberal banner
Bill Casey is going back to Ottawa, this time as a Liberal.
The former Conservative, Independent, and Progressive Conservative MP was declared elected early in the evening as poll numbers showed a sizable lead over incumbent Conservative Scott Armstrong, NDP candidate Wendy Robinson, Green Party candidate Jason Blanch and independents Kenneth Jackson and Richard Plett.
Casey was congratulated by a crowd of supporters at Teazers’ Pub and Eatery. The 70-year-old looked weary but content after a five-week campaign that grew sometimes bitter with former friend Armstrong.
After running on the slogan “Send Stephen Harper a message,” he was confident voters here did just that.
“We weren’t alone sending a
message,” he said. “I think everybody sent the message and the message is they want change, they want a positive attitude and they’re going to get it.”
After 152 of 220 polls had reported, Casey led with a whopping 17,610 votes to Armstrong’s 7,392.
He said he heard from many voters who were still upset with the Harper government’s handling of the Atlantic Accord eight years ago.
“This election tonight in Cumberland-Colchester is a message to every politician,” said Casey. “If you stand up for your people and you put them first, they’ll put you first.”
While it was perhaps unprecedented for a candidate to win elections for three different parties and as an independent, Casey said he never took victory for granted, and was happy to have run a positive campaign with a great team.
While this election may have cost him his friendship with Armstrong, he said the Conservative candidate had called him and offered to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
Regarding previous elections, Casey recalled his loss to the Liberals in 1993, with hopes of a similar nationwide result this time.
“I was washed away in the Liberal tide in 1993, and hopefully tonight I get washed back in with it,” he said.