CALGARY - Alberta's four main political parties headed into a frantic final weekend of campaigning in the closest election in decades, hoping to convey to the province's 2.3 million voters what makes them distinct.
Redford and Wildrose rival Danielle Smith were making feverish last minute stops and meet-and-greets in Edmonton and Calgary on Saturday to solidify support and woo undecided voters.
Strong support for the Wildrose in southern Alberta and Calgary has led to speculation that the south will go to Smith while the north and Edmonton would remain solidly PC.
PC leader Alison Redford dismissed suggestions her province is heading for a north-south split in Monday's election, though, as she rallied the troops for one last push Saturday morning.
"Talking to our candidates in Calgary they're very optimistic. I think we're going to see a good representation for us as Progressive Conservatives across the province," she said.
Even though polls suggest the Wildrose has a slight lead, the only sure thing appears to be a big turnout.
Advanced voting polling stations reported long lines Saturday, and the province is expected to easily surpass the 41 per cent turnout in the 2008 campaign, which was a record low.
In the morning Redford held a rally at a north-Edmonton convention centre. Local candidates were called to the stage like football players being introduced before the big game, cheered on by hundreds of sign-waving supporters.
At the end, candidate Gene Zwozdesky revved up the crowd by holding up Redford's arm as if she had won a boxing match and leading supporters in chants of "Vote P.C.! Vote P.C.!"
Meanwhile, at a campaign rally in Lethbridge Friday evening, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith again hammered the long-serving government for a "PC culture of corruption" while touting her own party's "new ideas."
"I know you're tired of PC mismanagement, driving up your power bills, messing up health care, messing up education," the former PC party member told about 250 supporters.
"The Redford PCs, they've taken out a full page, full colour newspaper ad proudly declaring this is not your father's PC party. Truer words have never been spoken. Because your father's PC party balanced the budget, your father's PC party listened to Albertans, your father's PC party kept its word."
NDP Leader Brian Mason urged voters to ignore "the family feud" between the right-wing parties and said the Wildrose and Conservatives both offer more of the same.
"At the ballot box, voters face the choice of whether they want a conservative future again with the Wildrose or the Tories or the New Democrats that offer a better future," said Mason at a rally in Edmonton, where he called on voters to stick with a party that will protect health care, find a way to lower power bills and defend public education.
Raj Sherman, representing the Alberta Liberals, has a similar argument - except he wants his party to be the alternative.
"I'm very worried about the direction that this province is taking. I'm very worried about the direction of the Wildrose and the PCs. We do not need two right-wing conservative parties in No. 1 and No. 2 positions," he says. "I promise you, Alberta, I've got your back, the Liberals have had your back. Lend me your vote this one election," Sherman said in Edmonton.
Albertans have a veritable buffet of promises to choose from on Monday, analysts say.
The NDP has offered policies such as a cut to the small-business tax, re-regulation of the electrical industry and changes to energy royalties, including incentives for processing bitumen within Alberta.
In the face of falling support among decided voters across the province, Sherman has worked to present the Alberta Liberals as a centrist party that's staked out policies to protect public health care, set aside funding for free post-secondary tuition and increase the corporate income tax rate and the personal income tax rate on those earning over $100,000.
The front-running Wildrose has staked out distinct territory with promises such as a payout of surplus dollars directly to Albertans, a health care wait-time guarantee heavily based on private and out-of-province care, a legislated cap on spending increases, and referendum and MLA recall legislation.
In contrast, the Tories are basing their campaign on pledges of new schools and new family care clinics, a defence of public health care, a new era of energy research and a revamped system of "results-based budgeting."
The tight race has led to speculation of a minority government and the possibility that some Liberal and NDP supporters should vote for the PCs to prevent a Wildrose victory.
Redford has said her PCs could work with the NDP or the Liberals in the legislature - but not the Wildrose party. And in Fort Saskatchewan on Saturday, Smith showed that the feeling is mutual.
Acknowledging the tight race as well as the possibility of a minority government, she said anything would be better than a PC majority.
"I think if there were a mixed legislature it would work a lot better for Alberta. I'd work very well with the other opposition members," the Wildrose leader said.
The Liberals and NDP, meanwhile, hope it doesn't come to a PC or Wildrose majority and vow to become players if a minority government is formed.
"We're going to elect a lot of MLAs, and those MLAs," Mason said "regardless of who forms the government - are going to fight for Alberta families."
However the real question is: could the parties work together in a minority government?
Between the PCs and the Wildrose, many political observers think the Wildrose would have a harder time keeping a minority government from falling apart, simply because the available partners they would have - namely the Liberals or NDP - are so far apart from them on so many issues. They're also not big fans of the PCs either.
So if a minority government is elected, experts don't expect it to last long.
With files from Global News
© Postmedia News, 2012