PCs pump up Burke campaign

Kathy Dunderdale brought the full Tory campaign to Joan Burke's district on Tuesday, where the government house leader is being challenged by Liberal Leader Kevin Aylward.

"She's not intimidated by Mr. Aylward, nor should she be," Dunderdale said during one of a series of stops in St. George's-Stephenville East.

"She's an extremely good MHA."

Dunderdale stopped at a farm in Robinsons to promote the party's agricultural agenda.

Elaine Wells, who owns the farm, says while she has no desire to post any campaign signs on her property, she's been pleased with Burke's performance.

"We've seen many improvements over the years. She's been a great presence in the area," said Wells. "Mr. Aylward? Well, we've had him in the past."

Aylward, a former cabinet minister who had held the district for 18 years, returned to politics in August when the Liberal executive selected him to lead the party into the Oct. 11 election. [FULL COVERAGE: Follow all of our election coverage here.]

During the opening days of the campaign, Aylward stuck close to home base.

Burke said she is campaigning on her record, particularly in the wake of the 2005 closure of the newsprint mill in Stephenville.

"To see that we've had a community or a town that lost its paper mill, and we've been able to rebound and do as well as we have, certainly indicates that there's been government support to make that happen," Burke told CBC News.