With the BC Liberals facing unprecedented political troubles, there are questions about whether a change in the party's leadership might happen.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said Thursday that he isn't planning to go anywhere.
"I actually think I've been pretty clear," Campbell said to CTV News. "I have every intention of running again in 2013. What I'm focusing on right now is not 2013, it's strengthening the economy."
Campbell said he was clear about his intentions, but on Wednesday CTV asked him twice if he would run again, and for the first time he refused to commit himself.
"I'm 62 years old so I'll have an opportunity to consider that, but first I've got to make sure we get our economy thriving," Campbell told CTV News Wednesday about his plans for 2013.
When pressed a second time, Campbell said, "The election which is three years away is not the core of my concern at this point."
There are a lot of potential successors in the Liberal party who are watching Campbell's every move. Insiders testing the waters include Health Minister Kevin Falcon, Housing Minister Rich Coleman and Attorney General Mike de Jong.
Outsiders, who aren't tainted by the unpopular HST debate, include Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts and former Finance Minister Carole Taylor.
The question now is whether today's political troubles have the powers to push Campbell out or whether he can ride out the storm.
"I think anything's possible," said University of Victoria political science professor Dennis Pilon. "People would be foolish to count Gordon Campbell out. He's a man who people have said is finished so many times and then he manages to come back."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty
