McCartney predicts tough 2012 general election fight for FNM
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net
THE tough economy and poor public relations on the part of the governing party will make the 2012 general elections a particularly tough fight for the Free National Movement, said former Cabinet Minister Branville McCartney.
Although the Bamboo Town MP believes the FNM is still the best choice for the country's electorate, he said the party must go into overdrive to win over disgruntled voters worried about their finances and those who feel slighted by the Ingraham administration's policies.
"I think we need to start gearing up for the next election, I think this will be a very tough election," said Mr McCartney, who resigned as Minister of State for Immigration in February.
"I think it's a mix of things, of course the economy, when people are hurting in their pockets - and that doesn't have anything to do with this administration per se, the economy - people sometimes vote based on their pockets.
"And I think the FNM, it's a party of doing things but we've not promoted what we've done, public relations is not good with the FNM," Mr McCartney conceded.
"There have been things done and statements made that perhaps turned off a lot of people, I think showing a lack of compassion. The party will also have to win over young 'swing' voters who were not old enough to cast a vote in 2007.
"You have to bear in mind that a lot of the swing voters are young people, those who were 13 at last election, and will be 18 or thereabouts in 2012. And they wouldn't know why the PLP was voted out - they only know what's going on now.
"It places us to a certain extent at a disadvantage but I have no doubt in my mind that the FNM is the best party (to lead the country).".
Mr McCartney, partner in the law firm Halsbury Chambers, resigned from Cabinet earlier this year because "my feelings of stagnation and the inability to fully utilize my political potential at this time." He has publicly said he would like to lead the FNM - and the country - if given the chance.
The FNM was expected to hold its annual convention this year when it was anticipated that if nominated, Mr McCartney would have challenged Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for the party's top spot. On Thursday, the FNM's national council voted to put off the convention until 2011.
A day earlier, Mr Ingraham told the press that he advised the council not to hold the event, citing financial challenges as a main reason.
October 04, 2010
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