Gurmant is running again! Yes, despite a spate of public embarrassments, Canada's favourite freelance espionage operative will beg the electors of Newton-North Delta for a second chance. With comely engineering-type Sukh Dhaliwal back again as the Liberal contender, this is starting to look like a good spot for that rarest of political lightning strikes: a Grit pick-up in BC. 2004 NDP candidate Nancy Clegg is articulate and passionate, but TND has its doubts about her viability as a Gurmant-toppler.

In wonk math news, Angus Reid shows Team Martin way out in front:

Liberals: 39%
Conservatives: 24%
NDP: 19%
BQ: 14%

No breakdowns for BC, but the Ontario numbers are smashing for the Grits, and the BQ still owns a 20-point lead in Quebec. Taking into account the general trendlines of other polls, smart money would guess the Libs are 8-10 in front of Harper & Co. cross-country. Mind you, the Tories always look weaker between elections--though nowhere near as weak as they do, say, halfway through a national campaign . . .

Après moi, le Deluge? Nina Grewal reportedly offered to assume responsibility for representing the constituents of Surrey North after indie MP Chuck Cadman's death last week, which begs the question: Have the good citizens of Surrey not suffered enough? Could they be made to endure a more absurd ordeal than that, a veritable political version of Fear Factor? Saner heads, it seems, have prevailed, and Cadman's henchthingies have said they will continue to serve the riding's constituents, sans MP. No word on how Gurmant is telling Nina to feel about that.

Various papers contend that Cadman's widow, Dona, is considering a run for his seat. According to UVic yakademic Norman Ruff: "Typically, byelections involving a former MP's widow run very well . . . There's so much cynicism about politicians, Cadman is an exception." TND is understandably reassured by the thought that voters will overcome widespread cynicism by electing a Member of Parliament whose sole qualification is a last name that starts with "C" and ends with "-adman." At least Norm added this charming afterthought: the NDP is "well-positioned to retake the riding."

Hard to say if Dona will run as an Ind., or seek the nomination of the party that booted her hubby back in '04. A DonaCon candidacy would sadly deprive us of the funpark spectacle that was Jasbir Singh Cheema, whose claim to fame was having signed up 140% of the riding's population as card-carrying Cons in his gallant bid to oust Chuck, then losing spectacularly when none of those voters turned up at the federal polls. With any luck, the Liberals will do their best to carry the standard for muck-generating by running some no-name hack with unlimited mass-registration potential.

Of course, the Grits could run Guru Nanak himself in Surrey North and not have a hope in hell of winning this seat. Which is why TND humbly offers its advice to PMPM and his merry (though ever-diminishing) band of Earnscliffe flunkies: Call this byelection tomorrow, find a candidate sub-standard even by Surrey Liberal sub-standards, keep him wrapped-up in an Ikea box under the Pattullo Bridge until election day, and let the NDP carry it off. One more New Democrat in the Commons will make Martin just a bit safer, and surely that feat is worth the $250 000 pricetag?