Some more totally useless information

Here's another entry in the same category as this useless one....

If Facebook is any indication of who is leading the race for Premier (which obviously it isn't) it's not going to be a close one.

Selinger has just passed Swan today in terms of Facebook supporters (233 vs 218).

But both are still behind Ashton at 471.

Odds and Ends

Ashton:
I’m not sure if musing about a first ballot win is the best strategy for Ashton. Ashton is seen as a bit of a bogeyman in some NDP circles and this might coalesce the party into an ABA campaign (Anyone but Ashton). If you need proof about how talk of a win (or majority) can backfire, you don't need to look much further than the Federal Conservatives.

And even if you sell more memberships, recent history has shown us that it does not necessarily translate into a win. Ask Ron Schuler (see bottom of story).

Wedge:
Andrew Swan via Dan Lett is trying to put a wedge between himself and Selinger on the issue of the HST. Unfortunately it’s not much of a wedge when the candidates' positions can hardly be differentiated.

Here are a couple of recent quotes from Selinger:

Winnipeg Free Press, September 14:
“He (Selinger) said under the current terms being offered by Ottawa, "the HST is dead."

Brandon Sun, September 11:
“At this stage I don’t think it would be wise to implement it right now ... I keep an open mind on it, but the business case for it today was not good.”

Endorsements:
This person has announced that she is supporting Selinger.
That's up to 14 MLAs for Selinger.

You make how much

This just came out yesterday and is always an interesting read. To find out how much your MLA is paid or if you're nosy and want to know what your friends or family make at the Province of Manitoba click here.

Who's backing who at the zoo, two

UPDATED

Here’s a new list of who’s backing who so far.

Some of these were hinted at in this post.

Andrew Swan
Nancy Allan, MLA St. Vital/Labour Minister
Theresa Oswald, MLA Seine River/Health Minister
Stan Struthers, MLA Dauphin-Roblin/Conservation Minister
Peter Bjornson, MLA Gimli/Education Minister
Ron Lemieux, MLA La Verendrye/Infrastructure Minister
Dave Chomiak, MLA Kildonan/Justice Minister
Gord Mackintosh, MLA St. Johns/Family Services Minister
Sharon Blady, MLA Kirkfield Park
Erin Selby, MLA Southdale
Frank Whitehead, MLA The Pas
Pat Martin, MP Winnipeg Centre
Darlene Dziewit, president, Manitoba Federation of Labour
Robert Ziegler, UFCW.
Mike Davidson, President, CUPE Local 500
Kevin Rebeck, CUPE Manitoba president

Total: 7 Ministers, 3 MLAs, 1 MP, 4 Labour, O City Councillors = 15

Steve Ashton
Bidhu Jha, MLA Radisson
Darryl Reid, MLA Transcona
Tom Nevakshonoff, MLA Interlake
Niki Ashton, MP Churchill
Jim Maloway, MP Elmwood-Transcona
Russ Wyatt, City Councillor Transcona
Alex Forrest, president, United Firefighters of Winnipeg

Total: 0 Ministers, 3 MLAs, 2 MP, 1 Labour, 1 City Councillor =7

Greg Selinger
Eric Robinson, MLA Rupertsland/Culture Minister
Rosann Wowchuk, MLA Swan River/Ag. Minister
Diane McGifford, MLA Lord Roberts/Advanced Ed. Minister
Kerri Irvin-Ross, MLA Fort Garry/Healthy Living Minister
Melnick, MLA Riel/Water Stewardship Minister
Jim Rondeau, MLA Assiniboia/STEM Minister
Rob Altemeyer, MLA Wolseley
Marilyn Brick, MLA St. Norbert
Greg Dewar, MLA Selkirk
Jennifer Howard, MLA Fort Rouge
Doug Martindale, MLA Burrows
Mohinder Saran, MLA The Maples
Flor Marcelino, MLA Wellington
Bonnie Korzeniowski, MLA St. James
Bill Blaikie, MLA Elmwood
Drew Caldwell, MLA Brandon East
UPDATE: Judy Wasylycia-Leis, MP Winnipeg North
Dan Vandal City Councillor for St. Boniface
Jenni Gerbasi, City Councillor Fort Rouge
Brandon and District Labour Council president Jan Chaboyer
Paul Moist, CUPE President

Total: 6 Ministers, 10 MLAs, 1 MPs, 2 Labour, 2 City Councillors =21

Here are the caucus members and city councillors that have not publicly endorsed anyone yet:

Gerard Jennissen, MLA Flin Flon
Erna Braun, MLA Rossmere
Harvey Smith, City Councillor Daniel McIntyre
Lillian Thomas, City Councillor Elmwood

Big News

I hear that the Selinger campaign will be making an announcement tomorrow. Could it be on a big name joining the team? Maybe this person is someone that I hinted at in this post?

But I'm not saying just yet. You'll have to wait a bit longer.

I also hear that Bonnie Korzeniowski who attended all three launches has made up her mind on who she is supporting. Should be interesting. Find out more tomorrow.

All of this a day after the final figures for the 2008-09 fiscal year were released showing a net summary surplus (this includes all the operations of government including crowns) of $463 million and a size able increase in the rainy day fund. The surplus is much higher than the $316 million projected in the third quarter.

The numbers are quite strong especially when you consider the state of the world economy over this period. Compare this to pretty much any other province in Canada and Manitoba's finances start looking even better.

And I'm not saying that this current year won't be tough but first quarter projections never tell much of a story.

For example, in last year's first quarter, expenditures exceeded revenue by $119 million but the province came out pretty good in the end didn't they. The same story is repeated pretty much every first quarter.

So why is it even being reported? I dunno.

Anyway all of this to say that it's been a pretty good end of the week for the Selinger Team. Ok, enough of my cheer leading.

Who's backing who at the zoo

All the serious candidates have declared. To recap, here’s a list of who’s backing who so far.

Andrew Swan
Nancy Allan, MLA St. Vital/Labour Minister
Theresa Oswald, MLA Seine River/Health Minister
Stan Struthers, MLA Dauphin-Roblin/Conservation Minister
Sharon Blady, MLA Kirkfield Park
Erin Selby, MLA Southdale
Pat Martin, MP Winnipeg Centre

Steve Ashton
Bidhu Jha, MLA Radisson
Darryl Reid, MLA Transcona
Tom Nevakshonoff, MLA Interlake
Niki Ashton, MP Churchill

Greg Selinger
Eric Robinson, MLA Rupertsland/Culture Minister
Rosann Wowchuk, MLA Swan River/Ag. Minister
Diane McGifford, MLA Lord Roberts/Advanced Ed. Minister
Kerri Irvin-Ross, MLA Fort Garry/Healthy Living Minister
Rob Altemeyer, MLA Wolseley
Marilyn Brick, MLA St. Norbert
Greg Dewar, MLA Selkirk
Jennifer Howard, MLA Fort Rouge
Doug Martindale, MLA Burrows
Mohinder Saran, MLA The Maples
Added: Flor Marcelino, MLA Wellington

Here are the Cabinet Ministers, caucus members and MPs that have not publicly endorsed anyone yet and a prediction of who I think they will end up supporting.

Bill Blaikie –Selinger, MLA Elmwood
Gord Mackintosh –Swan, MLA St. Johns/Family Services Minister
Jim Rondeau –Selinger, MLA Assiniboia/STEM Minister
Peter Bjornson –Swan, MLA Gimli/Education Minister
Ron Lemieux –Swan, MLA La Verendrye/Infrastructure Minister
Christine Melnick –Selinger, MLA Riel/Water Stewardship Minister
Frank Whitehead -Selinger, MLA The Pas
Gerard Jennissen -Ashton, MLA Flin Flon
Jim Maloway -Ashton, MP Elmwood-Transcona
Drew Caldwell MOVED from no guess to likely Selinger, MLA Brandon East

And those that I can’t even give an educated guess.
Dave Chomiak –??, MLA Kildonan/Justice Minister
Erna Braun -??, MLA Rossmere
Bonnie Korzeniowki –who attended at least two (UPDATE: make that all three) of the conferences. ?? She has been quoted as saying that she will sleep on it another night.
Judy Wasylycia-Leis ??, MP Winnipeg North

UPDATE: Scott Smith (ex MLA Brandon West and currently working in Minister Swan's department) also attended both Swan's and Selinger's newsconferences.

UPDATE: I hear Dan Vandal City Councillor for St. Boniface was at Selinger's launch but this has not been confirmed.

Tidbit

I hear Andrew Swan had to change his plans and give away his tickets to the big game.

The inevitable sacrifices of running for Premier or has he heard something and is getting a bit worried?