The BC Liberal leadership race has become a four-person battle now that Vancouver-Langara MLA Moira Stilwell and former Parksville mayor Ed Mayne have dropped out of contention. Stilwell and Mayne have opted to support Shuswap Liberal MLA George Abbott in his bid to replace Gordon Campbell as premier. With only a few days remaining before party members vote in a new leader Saturday, the trio of BC Liberals said a few words to supporters Monday at the Westerly Hotel in Courtenay."I watched six different debates. What I saw was there was one man (Abbott) that continued to show that he thought a lot along the same lines as what I did," Mayne said."He was looking for common sense. He was talking about consultation, he was talking about a more open and transparent government. He was talking about all the things that people here on the Island were looking for. He is the man that's going to be the next premier of this province, there's no doubt in my mind."Stilwell spoke highly of Abbott's leadership style, experience and character. "The question is who can hold the caucus together to move forward and beat the NDP in 2013?" she said. "We're looking for a new tenor and tone. Who will work for the interests of all people in British Columbia for the next decade and beyond? That person is George Abbott."Abbott, a former deputy house leader who has held five cabinet posts, reiterated what he said during a December visit to the Comox Valley, touching on economic development, and about reaching out to marginalized individuals in order to reconnect with people. He admits the BC Liberal party has "lost its way," largely due to the manner in which it introduced the harmonized sales tax. He therefore expects to hear tough questions from the electorate. Noting a demographic shift as B.C. becomes an older province, Abbott said government expects to see upwards of one million job openings to be filled by about 600,000 young people over the next decade. "We have a huge opportunity here," Abbott said. "We need to extend a helping hand to every young British Columbian to make sure they get the education they need. For the first time we have in British Columbia an opportunity to see genuine quality of opportunity for every young child."Abbott's circle of support includes 19 members of the B.C. Liberal caucus. The coalition also includes former cabinet ministers members Blair Lekstrom and Bill Bennett. Lekstrom quit cabinet and the party in the summer over Campbell's failure to consult the public about the HST. Bennett was turfed in the fall after he criticized Campbell for being intimidating and abusive.Despite being on the receiving end of some harsh words from Bennett, Abbott said the former energy minister and Lekstrom are both needed if the B.C. Liberals hope to defeat the NDP in the next provincial election. "While there may be hard feelings, it is imperative that the B.C. Liberals are reunited by 2013," Abbott said. His competition for premier includes former health minister Kevin Falcon, former attorney general Mike de Jong and former deputy premier Christy Clark.reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com