The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Deputy Prime Minister and FNM stalwart Frank Watson said yesterday that he expects this Friday’s leadership race between Dr Hubert Minnis and Loretta Butler-Turner to be a close one.

Calling the race difficult to predict, he told The Tribune: “I don’t expect a very wide margin. I expect both of them to have their groups (solidified).”

Mr Watson praised the efforts Dr Minnis and Mrs Butler-Turner have made to secure the support of delegates.

“Both candidates have been working hard to get potential delegates and I expect them to be working right up to the last minute,” he said, when contacted by The Tribune for comment.

Amid concern about reported discord between the two candidates, Mr Watson said win or lose, he expects them to “come together” and remain major players within the FNM.

“One or two people might feel strongly about something and there will always be peripheral things, but there will not be any dissension,” he said.

Mr Watson told The Tribune last week that Dr Minnis has the advantage over Mrs Butler-Turner in the race because he launched his campaign “a long time ago.”

Adding that Mrs Butler-Turner has ground to make up, Mr Watson said: “She has an uphill battle.”

“I think they’re both working very hard, but right now it’s going to take a mistake (from) Dr Minnis for Mrs Butler-Turner to catch him up. Right now it seems that he has the lead,” he said last week.

Mr Watson nonetheless highlighted Mrs Butler-Turner’s “political acumen.”

“Mrs Butler-Turner is very good in terms of political acumen,” he said, “but I really believe that (Dr Minnis’) early start in campaigning is key.”

“Because he started his campaign probably earlier than she did and more intensely than she did that’s why she’s probably chasing him.”

Mrs Butler-Turner is the only FNM to openly declare interest in challenging Dr Minnis for the party’s top post. Several other FNM’s, including Chairman Darron Cash and Deputy Chairman Dr Duane Sands, have announced their plans to run for the deputy leader’s post.