Having watched the campaign unfold, Premier Jason Kenney said Monday he felt more confident than he has in the campaign’s first two weeks.
It’s a moment many Canadians thought would never come. Kenney, the former head of the powerful right-wing Reform Party in Alberta, finally stood at the podium and took the helm of Alberta PC leadership — though many have been saying for months he’d be named leader.
“I am as confident as I’ve been in this campaign in a long time to be premier,” Kenney said in a Monday rally in Red Deer, Alberta.
“I’m confident more now than I’ve been in a long time” say Alberta PCs leader J. Kenney as campaign enters it’s third week #abpoli #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/5mwLMgP3Is — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 9, 2018
But there were no perfect moments. The conservative leadership debate on Saturday night featured every candidate except Kenney.
WATCH: Kenney says Wildrose leader [Evan Bray] ‘insults’ Albertans
There was also a slip-up of sorts when Kenney stepped on an Alberta PC candidate’s flagpole, which put the PC party down for a day. Kenney was on his way out of town as the distraction and was ready to go.
Kenney said Monday it was a mistake and apologized. He said he was being coordinated against.
“We knew this was coming, we had been told in advance by [interim leader Ric McIver] … we were fighting for our life in the first two weeks and had just two weeks to pull this off,” he said.
One thing is for sure: there’s still a week left in the campaign.
“I can’t wait for the next period of 10 days,” he said.
Watch: Calgary-Bow PC candidate is shown hanging out with others with Canadian flags during PC leadership debate. Not okay?#abpoli #ableg pic.twitter.com/mlwpJe8Ejg — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 8, 2018
Alberta PC members have just five days left in the campaign. Albertans will go to the polls April 23.
READ MORE: In Alberta, Jason Kenney says it’s his turn to lead