One year after winning his third consecutive provincial election, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell seemed noncommittal about running for a fourth term in 2013.
"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," said Campbell when asked by CTV News about his plans for 2013.
Campbell's comments about his future are a departure from what he has said over the past year.
After winning the 2009 election, Campbell was asked if he planned to retire anytime soon.
"Absolutely not," Campbell replied on election night. "I just got the gift of four more years of hard work."
A lot has happened over the last year that could have caused a change of heart. The provincial deficit ballooned six times higher than promised.
Then the Liberals broke a promise by introducing the controversial harmonized sales tax. Hundreds of thousands of British Columbians have signed an anti-HST petition, which might be giving Campbell second thoughts.
"The election which is three years away is not the core of my concern at this point," said Campbell Tuesday. "My concern is making sure British Columbia's economy takes care of the people who live here."
University of Victoria political science professor Dennis Pilon says that Campbell and the Liberals have no one to blame but themselves.
"I think some of the problems the liberals are facing are self inflicted," he said to CTV News.
"On the HST, it's definitely entirely their own fault."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty
