Conservative Party candidate Al McDonald stoically fights to contain his emotions after being defeated Monday night by Liberal Anthony Rota. His partner Wendy Abdallah looks on.
Conservative Party candidate Al McDonald stoically fights to contain his emotions after being defeated Monday night by Liberal Anthony Rota. His partner Wendy Abdallah looks on. ____________________________________________________________
Al McDonald has likely fought his last election campaign, he says.
McDonald, the Conservative Party candidate, was defeated Monday night by Liberal Anthony Rota, who becomes Nipissing-Timiskaming’s first Member of Parliament.
Rota won the race with 18,254 votes, 2,253 more than McDonald’s 16,001.
Good campaign In winning, Rota keeps the seat in Liberal hands, as it had been for the past almost 16 years, when Bob Wood was the MP.
It was the second consecutive election defeat for McDonald in less than a year.
The former Nipissing MPP lost his seat to Liberal Monique Smith in last October’s provincial vote.
“I thought we ran a good campaign this time around, I though we had a great team,” McDonald said.
“Unfortunately the numbers just weren’t there for us and there’s not a whole lot I or this team could have done. Canadians made a choice and we have to accept that.”
Closed the gap It was a very quiet crowd at the Al McDonald campaign headquarters, on Fisher Street, watching as the results came in on television.
McDonald held a brief lead early on but Rota quickly closed the gap to push ahead and never look back.
One local Conservative strategist told BayToday.ca the party's polling had shown McDonald with 48% of the vote.
McDonald was sequestered in an unknown location and did not arrive at his headquarters until around 11 p.m., after calling to congratulate Rota.
Nothing to be ashamed of He received a long and loud standing ovation when he did enter with his partner Wendy Abdallah.
“We had a great time and there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” McDonald told supporters, his eyes watery and voice breaking with emotion.
McDonald said he and his team ran a “clean” campaign.
"I can tell you we followed all the rules, took the high road and we let the chips fall where they may and unfortunately they didn’t fall on our side,” McDonald told reporters afterward.
“I really wanted to represent this area, I thought I had so much to offer, but we accept the decision.”
Best ridings McDonald, who first was elected as North Bay deputy mayor in 2000 and then beat George Maroosis by 19 votes to win the 2002 Nipissing provincial byelection, told supporters everyone “fought hard” for the riding.
“I believe we have one of the best ridings in Canada and certainly the greatest people and they deserve an MP who will work extremely hard for them,” McDonald said.
“You and I believe in this great country and that’s why we’re here tonight and I guess a couple of final words would be ‘thank you and thank you for being here for Wendy and me.’”
Never say never And while he didn’t completely shut the door, McDonald was pretty clear about whether this was it for him in politics.
“You never say never, but if they come calling tomorrow the answer would probably be ‘no.’”
