N.L. premier-designate Tony Wakeham says pocketbook issues won his party election

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Tony Wakeham, leader of Newfoundland and Labrador's Progressive Conservatives, says Tuesday night's election victory was particularly sweet because opinion polls had predicted another Liberal government.

Instead, voters in the province gave the Tories a slim majority after ten years of Liberal party rule.

As the final ballots were counted at the conclusion of the election campaign, Wakeham's Tories won 21 of the legislature’s 40 ridings, a gain of seven seats.

John Hogan’s Liberals were elected in 15 ridings as the New Democrats led by Jim Dinn doubled their seat count to two, and two well-known Independents were re-elected.

Wakeham said he won over voters by consistently talking about health care, crime and pocketbook issues.

The Tory leader also criticized Hogan’s