"Belinda Stronach will surprise people this weekend," SooToday.com editorialist Andy Martens was saying in his most recent offering.
"Belindamania will be the main event across Canada this Saturday," Martens insisted.
Andy's favourite Conservative Party of Canada leadership wannabe turned out to be more fizzle than sizzle, both nationally and locally.
Stronach's leadership bid ended today as Stephen Harper won a first-ballot victory, collecting 55.5 percent of votes cast nationally, compared to 35 percent for Stronach and 9.5 percent for Tony Clement.
Here in Sault Ste. Marie, Stronach fared even worse, gathering just 25 percent of local Tory votes.
Stephen Harper was preferred by 68.4 percent of local voters, Clement by 6.5 percent.
The following are results from some other Northern Ontario ridings:
Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing Clement - 8.1% Harper - 64.2% Stronach - 27.7%
Kenora Clement - 9.4% Harper- 50.9% Stronach - 39.6%
Nickel Belt Clement - 5.9% Harper - 33.8% Stronach - 60.3% Nipissing—Timiskaming Clement - 3.9% Harper - 61.6% Stronach - 34.5%
Sudbury Clement - 10.6% Harper - 50.4% Stronach - 38.9% Thunder Bay—Rainy River Clement - 7.8 Harper - 73.4% Stronach - 18.8%
Thunder Bay—Superior North Clement - 28.3% Harper - 47.6% Stronach - 24.1%
Timmins—James Bay Clement - 4.8% Harper - 36% Stronach - 59.2%