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Although last night’s underwhelming victory hasn’t done much to lower my anxiety level, there is at least one better-than-expected outcome.

Conservative candidate Tony Clement has won in my old hometown riding of Parry Sound–Muskoka, by 21 votes.

Whew. How long does a recount take? And, if he loses the recount, how do we get a second recount?

Tony, along with Jim Flaherty and John Baird, can really help Stephen Harper’s new government get on its feet. They have all cabinet experience, with a government that earned enough trust from Ontarians to win back-to-back majorities.

That’s the challenge for the Conservatives, if they want to parlay their “test-drive” minority into a majority. Ontario voters need to see responsible, professional, government before they will shift any more seats to the blues.