It's official: election January 23, 2006

It'll be a two part campaign of course - before and after Christmas - and it should be...feisty. Looks like the Liberals are going to plug the economic record heavily. Polls:

• CBC/ENVIRONICS: Lib 35%, Con 30%, NDP 20%...
• CTV/GLOBE & MAIL POLL: Lib 35%, Con 29%, NDP 17%...
• Update: a new poll has things 31-31-18

Columns:

• Tories take aim at Belinda
• Kinsella thinks it will be a Tory minority (link isn't permanent)
• David Frum gives the Conservatives some ideas

Must read blog

• Paul Wells

Update: Harper has decided to stir things up right away, vowing a free vote on marriage. Is that even possible now? And how does it help the Cs in Ontario? I'm all for free votes, but wont the media just play it up?