The Liberal incumbent just retired, criticizing the McGuinty government for not being concerned about the issues of Ottawa.

“Ottawa MPP gives up on ‘government of Toronto’”

This will be an interesting one to watch!

I think, given that the NDP holds this seat federally and the popular incumbent is retiring while criticizing the Liberals, the NDP will probably win Ottawa Centre. It should at least be one of their top targets (up there with London-Fanshawe and Hamilton Centre).

I wonder if the NDP has as good a chance as some have suggested. The NDP won federally with a weak candidate because there was a spill over effect from Ed Boardbent’s credibility as the previous MP. Several people I know have pulled back from the NDP because the federal NDP is seen as playing games by focusing more on the Liberals than the Conservatives.

Doug, that is just liberal propaganda. Voting in the house, both the BLOC and libs have kept this con govt in power. NDP is on record for voting against every confidence motion in the house. The libs sure can’t say that. That’s why we critize the libs, they speak out of both sides of their mouth, forever.

I was intrigued to learn that in the 1999 election, the Tories finished a relatively close second here (results were Lib 38%, PC 33%, NDP 25%). If the Tories have a far more progressive leader and the Liberals have lost the advantage of a long time incumbent, I think this could definitely be a three way race and could go PC if Tory wins the election.

I think the NDP has a very good chance of winning here. Paul Dewar has not ended up being a weak candidate and has been very visible in Ottawa Centre both on national as well as local issues. This bodes well for the NDP, as well as the former liberal member being non-responsive to constituents during his last term. Just the fact that he waited until he was leaving to stand up for Ottawa! Will Murray is a young, smart, human rights lawyer. The Liberal candidate is a free trade lawyer. It doesn’t appear that the Liberals are very in tune with this area since it’s the most progressive riding in Eastern Ontario.

I see this as a tight three-way race. The Liberals will lose more than the provincial average drop because Patten ran well ahead of the Party vote and he has unhappily retired. I think the PC candidate is a perfect one for the riding and is likely a close third right now…but the riding includes suburban areas where she can run well (unlike the riding 10 years ago which was more inner city). An interesting question is whether the Green candidate can get the 10% that his federal candidate did…I don’t think so.

Should be a close one. I was torn between the Liberals and NDP. But after having a chance to hear both of their candidates speak at a town hall meeting recently, I’ve made up my mind to vote Liberal this time. Mr. Naqvi just might pull this off …

The class in this field is Yasir Naqvi Liberal and Greg Laxton Green. The desperate half truths and lies about Richard Patten spouted by Trina M the john tory candidate is an indication of what a mean spirited person she is. Yasir naqvi should take this riding in a hard fought election against Will Murray of the NDP.

The NDP campaign is somewhat disorganized here – even though I live in Ottawa-Orleans, they called me yesterday for my vote. They are obviously using an old voter’s list at least several years old.

Please note this comment is in a series of comments by me. I’m doing a prediction for every riding. For this riding I’m predicting the NDP will win.

After attending an all candidates Q+A a few days ago, I came away impressed with Yasir Naqvi (Liberal) and Greg Laxton (Green).

Moreover, I was kind of suprised at who the NDP choose as their candidate. Dressed in the snooty Oxford/Harvard attire, with a resume to match, he seemed out of place in this riding. I’d see him do well in Kanata area, not in Ottawa Center.

I did not get to see the Blonde Conservative Lady speak. I saw she got the Ottawa Citizen endorsement. But what does that mean in Ottawa-Center? not much.

I hope this Green Party candidate continues to run because I really gained respect for the guy at this Q+A.

I hope Yasir will be the voice of diversity in the Liberal Caucus…. the only one from the Ottawa area.

I really hate to point this out, but going to Trina Morrissette’s website, you see the many photos. When you look at her team, there isn’t a single person of colour (http://trina4ottawacentre.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/100_0201.jpg). It just makes me wonder how she can hope to represent a diverse riding with that kind of non-diverse team?

sorry, its a Liberal win I’m forcasting. not NDP.

Will new Liberal candidate Yasir Naqvi keep Ottawa Centre in the Liberal column? – Yes

Ottawa Centre has a strong NDP record and Will Murray is a strong candidate who will have a high profile at Queen’s Park.

I acknowledge I have a bias – I was elected for the NDP four times to the Legislature and once to Parliament. Evelyn Gigantes, Ed Broadbent, and Paul Dewar have all won in Centre – a good strong array of candidates who were strong MPs and MPPs once they were elected.

Will has been campaigning all summer. NDP signs for Will far outnumber those for the Liberal candidate on people’s homes across the riding. The Liberal campaign has not taken off and the outgoing MPP, Richard Patten, chose to assist the campaign by going to India. And Howard Hampton, Jack Layton, and the party have all given Will solid support and presence.

Not a lock, but I look forward to Will being elected on Wednesday.

No so fast, Mr. Cassidy!

I’ve see alot of Green Party signs in Ott-Center. Some NDP is bleeding to Green.

I’m not going to call it a slam dunk for any candidate in Center.

Darn! I was hoping for some decent polling so I would know who to vote for to ensure that a McGuilty lib didn’t get in. I can’t tell from the chatter here who has the ‘mo.’ to block the lying schmoe!