By Renee Rodgers
Liberal candidate Peter Tinsley admits he expected to receive a few more votes on election night.
[1]BELLEVILLE, On. (05/02/11) Liberal candidate Peter Tinsley addresses supporters at his campaign office after being defeated in the 2011 general election. Photo by Renee Rodgers.
Tinsley addressed supporters and volunteers at his Dundas Street campaign office Monday night shortly after it became clear Conservative Darryl Kramp would be re-elected as MP for Prince Edward-Hastings.
Tinsley said he never imagined votes for the Liberals would be so few.
“I must admit that I’m surprised by the results here tonight because I don’t think any of us involved in the campaign had sensed the way the figures are going.”
In the end, Kramp walked away with the majority of votes – about 29,000 – while Tinsley took third place with around 10,000. NDP candidate Michael McMahon came in second place with around 13,000. Green Party candidate Patrick Larkin took approximately 2000 votes.
Tinsley told the group gathered in his office he still stands behind his platform even though the majority of constituents did not select it. The voters have made their views known.
“We put a clear alternative out there,” he said. “The voters have not accepted that. We will live with the will of the voters.”
Tinsley said he entered the race to win, but despite his loss he has no regrets about running. The campaign, he said, has been a learning experience.
“I’ve learned a lot in the past 37 days,” he said, “and I’m getting another lesson tonight.”
It seems the lesson Tinsley got last evening was not to underestimate the will of the Conservative voter. Not only did the Tories prevail locally but they also won a majority government on a national level.
In response to this, Tinsley spoke ironically.
“We can only trust in the voters’ will, that they will get what they asked for,” he said.
Cheers and applause from the audience ensued.
Tinsley said he believes the Liberal platform would have been best for Canada despite the fact voters didn’t see it that way. He blamed the Liberals’ poor performance at the polls partly on attack ads aired throughout the campaign.
“The fact that the [Liberal] party, and some would say Ignatieff’s leadership, has not caught on in the streets…that’s largely been due to the attack ads when it comes right down to it.”
While Tinsley said it’s too early to say if he will run again, he said he has not been deterred by the experience and has no regrets about running. He said he felt the need to enter the race due to his dissatisfaction with Harper’s leadership.
“I participated in an exercise of democracy that I felt was necessary,” he said. “What’s that old maxim? Sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is.”