George Abbott, a one-time berry farmer and political science college instructor, has played up his rural roots from day one of his Liberal leadership bid.
Whether that's enough to sway Liberal Party voters -- even given the boost Abbott gets from a new, weighted voting system -- is not clear, particularly since Abbott is not viewed as having as much spark as candidates like Kevin Falcon and Christy Clark.
An Ipsos Reid survey of 800 residents gave Abbott the highest marks for impression - 25 per cent feel positively towards whereas 19 per cent feel negatively.
All the candidates have made trips to northern B.C. and Prince George, as well as other rural areas, espousing a common theme that the region's resource-based economies are important to British Columbia's future.
But Abbott, from the tiny community of Sicamus in the southern Interior, has argued he's the candidate that has true rural credibility and best understands B.C.'s rural regions truly drive the province's economy.
He pointed to the fact his father, a Sicamus farmer, supplemented his income with work in sawmills, logging and working on the railway.
"Our lives are built on resource development in 200 towns in this province," said Abbott. "And while it would be lovely to develop a Silicon Valley equivalent in British Columbia, there's not many communities that are going to become Silicon Valleys."
While Abbott appears confident heading into the final days of the campaign -- liking his position as a second choice in the preferential ballot that goes Saturday -- he and other candidates trail Clark in recent polls.
Abbott, who has billed himself as a moderate, is also sometimes criticized for his public persona. "George Abbott is such a boring old fussbudget," wrote one online observer.
However, as a moderate, Abbott may also be viewed as being able to bring the party together, said political scientist Norman Ruff, professor emeritus at the University of Victoria.
If Clark does not win on the first ballot, Abbott increases his chances as a second choice, said Ruff.
The second-vote scenario, perhaps, explains why Abbott has been more aggressive with his criticism of Clark than the other candidates.
For example, he has criticized Clark over her healthcare plan, saying it is unrealistic and oversimplified.
In the North, Abbott has support from Nechako Lake MLA John Rustad. However, Forestry and Mines Minister Pat Bell and Transportation Minister Shirley Bond, both from Prince George, endorsed Falcon.
Abbott has aimed his policy attention at Northern B.C.
He launched a resource development strategy last month in Prince George, which included a promise to establish a northern development agency office in the city.
He also promised a premier's council on resource development made up of industry, local government and First Nation representatives.
Abbott would also establish a major projects secretariat with government to ease the progress for large-scale resource-based projects.
If Abbott wins, he will be the the first premier from outside the Lower Mainland in 25 years. Bill Bennett, who was from Kelowna, was Social Credit premier from 1975 to 1986.
