See A Pattern?

Here is a list of the 67 Conservative candidates that participated in the Conservative in an out scheme. A clear pattern of funneling money into uncompetitive ridings, or very safe seats, and then returning it for what is assumed battleground "regions". The only exception is Quebec, but important to remember the Conservatives had little organization in that province at the time, operating with scant resources, which meant the "max" was rarely meant:

NEWFOUNDLAND:

Hynes- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Goudie- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Downey- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

PEI:

Noble- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

NOVA SCOTIA:

House- NDP incumbent, NDP won

Campbell- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Khosla- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

NEW BRUNSWICK:

Leger- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Doucet- Liberal incumbent retired, Liberal won

QUEBEC:

Blaney- Bloc incumbent, Conservative won

Laberge- Bloc incumbent, Bloc won

Boucher- Bloc incumbent, Conservative won

Petit- Bloc incumbent, Conservative won

Harvey- Bloc incumbent, Conservative won

Verner-Bloc incumbent, Conservative won

Boisvert- Bloc incumbent, Bloc won

Helie-Lambert- Bloc incumbent, Bloc won

Gorde- Bloc incumbent, Conservative won

Bruce- Bloc incumbent, Bloc won

Bernier- Liberal retired, Conservative won

Pineault- Bloc incumbent, Bloc won

Paradis- Bloc incumbent, Conservative won

Landry- Bloc incumbent, Bloc won

Lambert- Bloc incumbent, Bloc won

Nadeau- Bloc incumbent, Bloc won

Paine- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Drabkin- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

MacKenzie- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Rae- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Alam- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Poirier- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won

Cannon- Liberal incumbent, Conservative won

ONTARIO:

West- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won, Conservative third

Leskowski- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won, Conservative third

Graham- NDP incumbent, NDP won, Conservative third

Bowers- Liberal incumbent (Redman), Liberal won, Conservative second

Majkot- Liberal incumbent, Libera won by 20 000, Conservative second

James- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won by 12 000, Conservative second

Rodrigues- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won, Conservative distant third

Klufas- Liberal incumbent, NDP won, Conservative distant third

Clausen- NDP incumbent (Layton), NDP won, Conservative distant third

Goldstein- Liberal incumbent, NDP won, Conservative distant third

Halicki- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won, Conservative distant third

Mailer- Independent retired, NDP won, Conservative third

Davidson- Liberal incumbent, Conservative won

Teshuba- NDP incumbent, NDP won, Conservative distant third

Manitoba:

Sterzer- NDP incumbent, NDP won, Conservative distant third

SASKATCHEWAN:

Anderson- Conservative incumbent, Conservative won with 70% of vote

Harrison- Conservative incumbent, Liberal won

BRITISH COLUMBIA:

Harris- Conservative incumbent, Conservative won 50% of vote

Cannan- Conservative retired, Conservative won 50% of vote

Abbott- Conservative incumbent, Conservative won 55% of vote

Day- Conservative incumbent, Conservative won 55% of vote

Mayes- Conservative retired, Conservative won 45% of vote

Hill- Conservative incumbent, Conservative won, 60% of vote

Drazenovic- NDP incumbent, NDP won, Conservative third

Dalton- NDP incumbent, NDP won, Conservative third

Pagtakhan- NDP incumbent, NDP won, Conservative distant third

Wong- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won, Conservative distant third

Sowden- NDP incumbent, NDP won, Conservative second

DeSouza- Liberal incumbent, Liberal won, Conservative third


James made this comment on his blog:

I'm gonna bet, in Ontario, those on the list finished third in their ridings.

Not far off James ;)

What I see here, with VERY few exceptions, the Conservatives topped off ridings that weren't in play, in order to use that money where it could make a difference. The above supports the idea that this extra money was very important for Conservative fortunes, spent in targeted regions, it could very well have made a difference, as suggested by both the Liberals and NDP.