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CALGARY — Wildrose leader Danielle Smith was drawn off-message again Tuesday, as another candidate’s controversial comments dominated the Alberta campaign trail.

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Ron Leech, a pastor running to become an MLA in Calgary-Greenway, told a local radio station he had an electoral advantage because of his race.

“I think as a Caucasian I have an advantage,” Mr. Leech acknowledged saying on air over the weekend. “When different community leaders such as a Sikh leader or a Muslim leader speak, they really speak to their own people in many ways. As a Caucasian, I believe that I can speak to all the community.”

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Wildrose’s campaign has been dogged by controversies but a new poll shows Ms. Smith has become the clear front-runner to become Alberta’s next premier. The Leger Marketing survey, commissioned by the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald, shows 42% of decided voters will cast a ballot for Ms. Smith, up from 33% at the start of the campaign. Progressive Conservative leader Alison Redford slipped to 36% from 37% during the same time.