The Pollcast: Kevin O'Leary's exit and the B.C. leaders debate

The CBCPollcast, hosted by CBC poll analyst ric Grenier, explores the world of electoralpolitics,political polls and the trends they reveal.

Kevin O'Leary shook up the Conservative leadership race in Toronto on Wednesday, throwing in the towel andendorsing former rival Maxime Bernier, just hours before the final official debate of the campaign was held.

More than 3,000 kilometres away in Vancouver, the three leaders of the major parties in British Columbia faced-off in their final debate. The vote in that provincial election is less than two weeks away.

What impact will the two events have on their respective races?

• After O'Leary, is it Maxime Bernier's Tory time?
• Podcasts: Subscribe to the CBCPollcast

Joining Pollcast host ric Grenierfirst on the podcast this week are Conservative insiders Tim Powers of Summa Strategies and Chad Rogers of Crestview Strategy.

How did O'Leary's withdrawal shake-up the leadership campaign? Can Bernier capitalize on his endorsement to scoop up his supporters? And what does the number of members announced by the party this week 259,010 say about the state of the party?

ThenRichard Zussman, the CBC'slegislative reporter in B.C., and the Globe and Mail's Justine Hunter join the podcast totalk about the B.C. leaders' debate and thequickly approachingvote in British Columbia.

Listen to the full discussion above or subscribe to the CBCPollcast and listen to past episodes.

Past episodes with Chad Rogers and Tim Powers on the Conservative leadership race:

• Jan.2016: Your primer on the Conservative leadership race
• May 2016:The state of the Conservative leadership race
• July2016:Tony Clement in, JasonKenney out
• Sept.2016: The impact of MacKay's decision not to run
• Nov.2016: Conservative leadership begins to heat up
• Jan. 2017: O'Leary, French debate shake up race
• Mar. 2017: 3 months to go in CPC leadership race
• Apr. 2017: Bernier, O'Leary or someone else?

Follow ric Grenier,Tim Powers, Richard Zussman and Justine Hunteron Twitter.