The biggest advantage in Nepean-Carleton's election campaign was held by David Pratt, but it was no help on election night. He was defeated by a 25-year-old Conservative candidate, Pierre Poilievre.

Pratt was named Canada's defence minister by Prime Minister Paul Martin last December. He was previously a well-known MP and, before that, a local politician. He's held the riding since 1997.

Now, he's not sure what he'll do. "If I were to quit politics now, I'd be happy with what I've been able to accomplish. Whether or not that's my ultimate decision remains to be seen."

When the prime minister kicked off his election campaign in May, he did it at Pratt's campaign headquarters. When Dalton McGuinty came to town to announce a $600-million expansion of Ottawa's O-Train, Pratt was right there by his side to announce the federal government's share.

In spite of all that, he was defeated by Poilievre, a first-time candidate from Calgary who moved to the riding only seven months ago.

"I'm also quite humbled by the results," Poilievre said. "This is an enormous responsibility and I accept it with a tremendous gravity."

Poilievre used to work for the former Alliance leader, Stockwell Day. He is now a partner in a communications company. In spite of his lack of political experience, he had the backing of long-time Conservatives who felt he had a chance to defeat Pratt.

Poilievre says he campaigned, believing "the number-one issue in this election is accountability. People want strong controls in place through the auditor general to get in and root out the corruption, find the waste and put an end to all of it."

He took some heart from the fact the area voted Conservative in the last provincial election. The local MPP is John Baird, deputy House leader of the official Opposition.

New Democratic Party candidate Phil Brown said early he had no illusions about winning the riding this time out, but he said he was looking toward the future.

Brown is a businessman who has worked with numerous social agencies in the past.

During the campaign, he said, "My vision is this. Pierre Poilievre will probably take this riding in this election. There will be a minority government. I don't want to predict which party. And frankly, you know, Mr. Pratt is a Conservative in all but name. "And I would much rather run in two years' time against a real Conservative who has no roots in this riding and no real understanding of how to serve this riding, than against someone like Mr. Pratt in his role as a Liberal."