What matters most in an election?

The war of words has heated up. The WRP seem to be using Republican style tactics in their messaging, and heck, their platform as well. But this is Alberta and quite frankly that works for many. It will be interesting to see where people fall on election day. The WRP have garnered some momentum, but people I've talked to don't like the whole package. Apart from the fact they 've never governed, there's fragmentation within the party. Is it OK for a few of their candidates to publicly chastise homosexuality? Or is that OK for an elected official? PC aren't immune either, they're in panic mode trying to figure out how to stop the bleeding. Overall the leadership in the PC is the strongest, but we're also talking about a government that's used to winning and everyon nkows, where you settle, there you die. Alberta is going to get a change, we need a change, but some are left worried about how much of a change it will be. I for one don't want to be propelled into the the 70s with old thinking because rural Alberta hates the interweb.