As David Swick points out in today's Halifax Daily News [the column], Nova Scotia is facing a squeeker of an election in a few days. After living in PEI - where the NDP is a factor only in keeping the Tories in power by splitting the center-left, a sad fact due to the Province's failure to participate in the industrial revolution - a real three-way race is great to watch. My hopes for the upcoming Ontario provincial election is for a similarly vital process. More than even an Arsenal beating of Man. U....or anyone beating Man. U. for that matter...a good election makes compelling TV - even the recent close call for the Tories in New Brunswick was interesting...I don't think I have ever used "New Brunswick" and "interesting" in the same sentence before...hmmm.

My favorite bit of election TV has to be a UK election where the candidates have to be on the podium in their local constituency for the reading out of the final tally for their seats. There are no interim releases of poll results so the news is always a surprise. Last election, the Monster Raving Loony Party's candidate was up there next to Tony Blair. Down the row was the nice Cat Lover's Party grannie. Announcement. Polite applause and handshakes all around. One man has a silly hat, another has a nuclear arsenal.

Beware. Like an interest in listening to radio at night, however, it is not a thing to be raised during courtship:

"heeey...neato...look, honey, the Liberals are holding on in the Annapolis Valley...pass the corn nuts, woudja...honey?

(offstage: door slams, car starts and roars away)