New Brunswick results in federal elections are divided among geographical and linguistic lines: The Liberals fare better in the predominantly francophone eastern and northern sections of the province, while the anglophone south and west has historically tended to favour the Conservatives.
In 1993, Saint John was one of only two ridings in the country to go Progressive Conservative, electing Elsie Wayne.
The Liberals held three seats in the Anglophone south (Fredericton, Fundy and Tobique-Mactaquac), believed to be most vulnerable to the Conservatives.
Despite heavy targeting, the Conservatives only managed to reclaim Fundy from John Herron (who defected from the old PC party in 2003).
They lost the adjacent seat of Saint John, vacated by the retiring Elsie Wayne, making for a net Liberal gain.