Harper Backed By 84 Per Cent

"I think we've done a remarkable job when we can ... unite behind our party, behind our leadership (former political opponents such as) Brian Mulroney and Preston Manning, and who would have thunk that a couple of years ago?" Deputy leader Peter MacKay said the party had defined itself at the three-day policy convention, its first since it was formed a year ago by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives. "I will tell (Prime Minister Paul) Martin who we are: We are a proud, united Conservative party, sharing strong Canadian conservative values with a leader who is going to replace you as prime minister in the next federal general election," MacKay said. Harper said he was "surprised and overwhelmed" by the leadership vote..... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1111273810479&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154 [Edited March 21, 2005 - Be sure to include the "http://" in links, or the page will widen beyond some browsers capabilities due to long Toronto Star links. Dr.C]