Itās one of the most closely watched ridings in the Nov. 27 election. Even the incumbent has doubts about the final count.

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia has four strong candidates from a highly diverse background. A journalist, a playwright, a senator and a former provincial cabinet minister are jockeying for the riding.

Incumbent New Democrat Wendy Lill has written radio plays, screenplays and documentaries dealing with a variety of Canadian social issues. Lill was elected in 1997 and has been the partyās critic for issues pertaining to culture and the disabled.

Lill is critical of her Conservative rival, Tom McInnis for being a big spender. He was a cabinet minister in John Buchananās provincial government and many accuse that government of initiating the biggest spending spree in provincial history.

But McInnis dismisses his Liberal rival, Bernie Boudreau, for his record on health-care. He was part of a government that helped dismantle it and demoralize it, said McInnis.

Many voters remember Boudreau as the provincial cabinet minister in the budget-slashing government of John Savage. Boudreau parachuted into this riding with a seat in the Cabinet and was the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Perhaps the biggest surprise to Dartmouth voters is the Canadian Alliance candidate, Jordi Morgan. He is a nationally known former CBC broadcaster and admits his party is a difficult sell to Atlantic Canada.

Weāve been demonized, thatās itās a horrifying dark force from the West, said Morgan.

Regardless of the outcome, the attention being paid to Dartmouth is national in scope. Few Canadians will have as much choice in their own riding.