NDP stoop even lower than I could imagine

 
Justine Hunter, today at 6:09 PM EDT

 

 


Revelstoke - Norm MacDonald, the New Democratic Party candidate for Columbia River–Revelstoke, would not condemn a party activist who dogged Liberal leader Gordon Campbell Wednesday demanding he take a blood test to prove he is sober.

Andy Parkin greeted Mr. Campbell as he climbed off the campaign bus in Revelstoke with a large sign that asked, "Are you sober Campbell?"

He then chased the Liberal leader, who earned a conviction in Hawaii for drunk driving six years ago, down the block, urging him to provide a blood sample.

Mr. MacDonald said he is concerned that Mr. Parkin's actions would reflect badly on his campaign but maintained he is running a positive campaign.

“The BC Liberal candidate and I know each other and we work together lots. In the Kootenays we do politics nicely,” he said in an interview.

“I know Andy, I guess he is a retired teacher. He certainly does work, he volunteers and does lots of work, I think he's a party member.”

He described him as one of 300 party volunteers who pounds in lawn signs and hands out brochures in his riding, but Mr. Parkins was identified in the local newspaper three years ago as a senior member of Mr. MacDonald's riding executive.

“That's possible, I don't know,” Mr. MacDonald said. 

Later an NDP campaign organizer said Mr. Perkins has been vice president of the Revelstoke NDP Club.