Election favourite PQ turns its sights on rival Legault

MONTREAL – A man who wants to spoil the Parti Quebecois’ sprint to electoral victory is fending off a few elbows tossed his way today.

Francois Legault, who polls suggest might have the best chance of dislodging the PQ from front-runner status, came under attack on multiple fronts today.

First, the Coalition party leader had his character criticized in a newspaper interview. PQ Leader Pauline Marois, who used to serve in a cabinet with Legault, suggested he had a history of double-crossing colleagues and should not be trusted by voters.

Then Legault was confronted at a public appearance by a rival candidate — a very rare occurrence during a political leader’s tour.

A PQ star candidate had a front-row seat while Legault was making a speech in Montreal and, during a public question-and-answer session, began grilling the Coalition leader on his local transit plans.

Those developments come as some pundits suggest the election is turning into a two-way race, with the governing Liberals being squeezed out nearly everywhere that doesn’t have a heavy Anglo population.

Premier Jean Charest, meanwhile, was campaigning today in his home riding of Sherbrooke where he has already made numerous stops. Polls there suggest he is in danger of losing his seat.