SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Saskatchewan voters head to the polls today after a 27-day campaign that has featured few spending promises and lean party platforms.
It's widely considered to be a two-way race between the incumbent Saskatchewan Party, led by Brad Wall, and the Opposition NDP, under Cam Broten.
Wall, who is seeking a third-term in office, spent most of the campaign talking about his party's record since taking office in 2007.
It's the first election for Broten, who hammered away on the fact that Saskatchewan is now in deficit.
Wall's party took more than 60 per cent of the popular vote along with 49 of 58 seats in the legislature in 2011, leaving the NDP with just nine.
Despite the lacklustre campaign, both parties acknowledge there are ridings that could go to either way.
The NDP tried to rally support Sunday with an appearance at a barbecue in Regina by former premier Lorne Calvert.
University of Saskatchewan political science professor Charles Smith says for the NDP to consider the election a success, it needs to see growth.
"An increase of five seats to 14 would give them some momentum," says Smith.
"It would put a bit of wind in the sails of Mr. Broten, who's still very much a rookie leader. This is his first real test. In some ways, he's had a Herculean task to try and take down Mr. Wall."
Smith says Wall's popularity is a big factor in the campaign.
"People just don't see the need to change the captain of the ship," says Smith.
Wall consistently ranks as one of the most popular premiers in Canada in public opinion polls and has tried to paint himself as the defender of Saskatchewan throughout the campaign.
Even if the Saskatchewan Party wins a third term, it would have a ways to go before reaching some of the other political dynasties in Saskatchewan.
The Liberals won the first nine general elections in Saskatchewan from 1905 to 1938.
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the predecessor to the NDP, won five terms from 1944 to 1960, and the NDP won four terms from 1991 to 2003.
