Well, my first day volunteering for the illustrious Ed Broadbent -- and not a bad start. HQ's bumping, propaganda literature looks good and the signs have already started moving out the door.

Broadbent's drawing in great people, but more than that he's drawing in a lot of people. People on the street are asking where they can sign up. A couple of Saturdays ago, there were 130 people out canvassing. Today there were a dozen volunteers gearing up at the campaign office, while Mahoney's office sat dark and unpopulated.

I don't want to sound cocky, but I feel sorry for him. Richard Mahoney waited a decade for Mac Harb to go the 'that higher place' (the Senate). Now he's gotta run against Ed Broadbent?!

Nothing in politics is garaunteed; Mahoney could still pull this one out of his hat. But he's got a tougher road to hoe than most Liberals -- and tougher still than he'd have thought six months ago.