VANCOUVER — For Christy Clark, it was a win for the ages — and a win against the odds.
Clark — the politician-turned-radio host — won the B.C. Liberal leadership Saturday in a dramatic three-ballot election, after a campaign in which the party’s establishment tried to stop her.
Clark faced an ABC (Anyone But Christy) movement during the campaign. Many senior Liberals were suspicious about her ties to the federal Liberals, a rusty grasp of policy and connections to the still-festering B.C. Rail scandal.
But, in the end, Clark taped into a provincewide desire for change, and her absence from the government during the damaging HST saga clearly helped to win.
She also showed that she had an amazing campaign machine on the ground and throughout the province.
Clark now faces some significant challenges. The internal opposition she faced no doubt caused bitter feelings inside the governing Liberal caucus and cabinet. She will now have to heal those divisions if she hopes to keep the party strong and united.
Clark will undoubtedly invite her former rivals into her cabinet. And sources whisper that she was already working the phones to disaffected MLAs on Friday night in attempt to smooth ruffled feathers.
Clark has indicated that she will call an early election, saying she needs a seat in the legislature and a mandate from the people, although she may also run in a byelection in the seat being vacated by outgoing premier Gordon Campbell.
But an election would also be the best way for Clark to get a fresh mandate from B.C. Liberals who refused to support her for leader. She might also desire a quick election before the upstart fringe Conservative party gets on its feet.
One thing’s for certain: B.C. is in for a wild political ride with a young, dynamic and charismatic premier in power.