The race to replace B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell heats up significantly Thursday with Education Minister George Abbott officially joining the contest flanked by at least a dozen members of the current Liberal caucus.
Sources close to Health Minister Kevin Falcon and former Liberal cabinet minister Christy Clark say the two political veterans are seriously close to joining Abbott and former Liberal cabinet minister Moira Stilwell.
Abbott, a four-term Liberal from the Sicamous area, has been the most open about his inclination to run to replace the premier at the February 26 leadership convention.
Abbott said previously his ability to build consensus and handle controversial issues makes him a solid leadership choice.
He said Wednesday his leadership bid has the support of more than a dozen members of the current Liberal caucus. They will attend his Vancouver announcement, while several others are at other events and can't be there in person.
Abbott did not name any of his caucus supporters, but sources said Surrey-White Rock Liberal Gordon Hogg will be at the announcement to support Abbott.
Abbott, a former Okanagan college instructor and berry farmer has served previously as minister of aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, health, sustainable resource management and women's services.
"Not all of the (caucus members) who support me will be there, but I expect there'll be about a dozen there and a few more who are supportive but have to be at other events and commitments," said Abbott.
Falcon said he is "weeks" away from making his decision public, though a source suggested it may come sooner.
Sources also said former Liberal cabinet minister Christy Clark, who left politics in 2005 after two terms in the Liberal government, is poised to enter the race, with an announcement expected soon.
Clark is currently working as a CKNW radio hotline host in Vancouver, where many of her daily topics deal with dissecting the mysteries of B.C. politics.
Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Attorney General Mike de Jong are also considering a run for the top job.
Campbell announced earlier this month he is stepping down as soon as the Liberals can elect a new leader.
Campbell, who had led the Liberals for 17 years and has been premier for more than nine years, said he decided to get out of politics after realizing his unpopularity was overshadowing his government's plans to rebuild the economy.
Much of Campbell's unpopularity could be attributed to his government's introduction of the harmonized sales tax in July 2009.
The hated tax was introduced without a major round of public consultation, leading to widespread perception the government hid the tax from voters during the May 2009 election, only to introduce it shortly after being re-elected.
Abbott joined former skills development minister Moira Stilwell who entered the race Monday.
Stilwell released the first plank of her platform Wednesday, saying she would raise B.C.'s minimum wage to $10 per hour within two years if elected Liberal leader.
The Campbell Liberals have not raised B.C.'s $8 per hour minimum wage, now the lowest in Canada, since 2001.
Stilwell's minimum wage pledge comes as the B.C. Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition called for an increased minimum wage in its annual report released Wednesday. The report found one in seven B.C. children is living in poverty, and believes the recession will likely make things worse.
