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The Canadian Press Published Monday, September 22, 2014 6:09AM EDT Last Updated Monday, September 22, 2014 9:13PM EDT

FREDERICTON -- New Brunswick's Liberals and governing Progressive Conservatives were in an unusually tight race as votes were tallied at the conclusion of an election campaign that was dominated by jobs and the economy.

The Liberals, led by political rookie Brian Gallant, had been the perceived front-runner in the race long before the campaign even began. But the results indicated a much closer contest than polls suggested.

Like his main rival, Tory Premier David Alward, Gallant focused his campaign on employment growth, promising to create thousands of jobs by spending $900 million over six years to pave roads, repair bridges and upgrade other infrastructure.

By contrast, Alward sought a second mandate by committing to spur economic growth through expansion of the province's relatively new but contentious shale gas industry.

Alward's position was polarizing in the province, where public protests have raised concerns about the industry's use of hydraulic fracturing.

But Alward, 54, said New Brunswick is on the verge of $10 billion in private investment if it develops its deposits of shale gas and welcomes the proposed Energy East Pipeline, which could see oil shipped from Alberta to Saint John.

Alward and Gallant were both elected in their ridings by wide margins. But six of Alward's cabinet ministers went down in defeat.

With a large number of polls reporting results, the Liberals were leading and elected in 25 ridings compared to the Tories with 23.

Green Leader David Coon had a small lead in a close three-way race in the riding of Fredericton South.

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Liberals, Tories neck and neck after early returns in N.B. election

In the last week of the campaign, the New Brunswick Liberals ran a television ad featuring a picture of a smiling David Alward, the Progressive Conservative leader and Premier, beside Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Ominous music played in the background as a female narrator said: Conservatives David Alward and Stephen Harper have made a mess of New Brunswicks economy over the last four years. She asked voters if they want another four years of job losses, higher debt, and young people fleeing the province.

Globe and Mail Update Sep. 22 2014, 12:21 PM EDT

It may be a provincial campaign, but Liberal Leader Brian Gallant, the 32-year-old rookie, has been invoking the Prime Minister in one of his key campaign messages: the Harper-Alward alliance has been bad for New Brunswick.

Mr. Alwards team calls the ad nasty and is not happy the Liberals repeatedly refer to Mr. Alward and his party as the Alward Conservatives, deliberately forgetting to include the Progressive in the partys name.

They have such a strong brand right now because of Trudeau, says a senior Alward strategist of the Liberals. The advantage they have is that they have that same brand right across the country. Its the red L. From a brand perspective its difficult [for the PCs] because of Harper and some of the policies hes had in Atlantic Canada.

New Brunswickers go to the polls Monday, ending a campaign that has offered voters clear choices, especially on the key issue of job creation.

Mr. Alward, 54, is seeking a second term. He has focused his campaign on the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, as a way of creating jobs and keeping young New Brunswickers who have left for jobs in the West at home.

His campaign slogan is Say Yes to shale gas, jobs and prosperity. He is hoping the province will see $10-billion in private investment through the governments promotion of natural-resource development, including shale gas and the proposed Energy East pipeline.

Mr. Alward made history in 2010 by winning a majority and defeating the Liberals, who had served just one term the first time a New Brunswick government lost after just one term. Now, Mr. Gallant wants to do the same to Mr. Alward.

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New Brunswick Liberals link Alward to Harper as voters head to polls

FREDERICTON New Brunswicks Liberals and governing Progressive Conservatives were in an unusually tight race Monday night as votes were tallied at the conclusion of an election campaign that was dominated by jobs and the economy.

The Liberals, led by political rookie Brian Gallant, had been the perceived front-runner in the race long before the campaign even began. But the results indicated a much closer contest than polls suggested.

Like his main rival, Tory Premier David Alward, Gallant focused his campaign on employment growth, promising to create thousands of jobs by spending $900 million over six years to pave roads, repair bridges and upgrade other infrastructure.

By contrast, Alward sought a second mandate by committing to spur economic growth through expansion of the provinces relatively new but contentious shale gas industry.

Alwards position was polarizing in the province, where public protests have raised concerns about the industrys use of hydraulic fracturing.

But Alward, 54, said New Brunswick is on the verge of $10 billion in private investment if it develops its deposits of shale gas and welcomes the proposed Energy East Pipeline, which could see oil shipped from Alberta to Saint John.

Alward and Gallant were both elected in their ridings by wide margins. But six of Alwards cabinet ministers went down in defeat.

With a large number of polls reporting results, the Liberals were leading and elected in 25 ridings compared to the Tories with 23.

Green Leader David Coon had a small lead in a close three-way race in the riding of Fredericton South.

Gallant, 32, has said there should be a moratorium on fracking until the risks to the environment, human health and water are known.

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Liberals and Tories in close race in New Brunswick election

FREDERICTON New Brunswicks Liberals and governing Progressive Conservatives were in an unusually tight race Monday night as votes were tallied at the conclusion of an election campaign that was dominated by jobs and the economy.

The Liberals, led by political rookie Brian Gallant, had been the perceived front-runner in the race long before the campaign even began. But the results indicated a much closer contest than polls suggested.

Like his main rival, Tory Premier David Alward, Gallant focused his campaign on employment growth, promising to create thousands of jobs by spending $900 million over six years to pave roads, repair bridges and upgrade other infrastructure.

By contrast, Alward sought a second mandate by committing to spur economic growth through expansion of the provinces relatively new but contentious shale gas industry.

Alwards position was polarizing in the province, where public protests have raised concerns about the industrys use of hydraulic fracturing.

But Alward, 54, said New Brunswick is on the verge of $10 billion in private investment if it develops its deposits of shale gas and welcomes the proposed Energy East Pipeline, which could see oil shipped from Alberta to Saint John.

Alward and Gallant were both elected in their ridings by wide margins. But six of Alwards cabinet ministers went down in defeat.

With a large number of polls reporting results, the Liberals were leading and elected in 25 ridings compared to the Tories with 23.

Green Leader David Coon had a small lead in a close three-way race in the riding of Fredericton South.

Gallant, 32, has said there should be a moratorium on fracking until the risks to the environment, human health and water are known.

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Liberals and Tories neck and neck after early returns in New Brunswick election

WATCH: Laura Brown reports on the past month on the New Brunswick election campaign trail, where politicians have beenmaking promises and mistakes, and talking about the key issues facing the province.

FREDERICTON David Alward and Brian Gallant have each won their respective seats, while NDP leader Dominic Cardy lost his bid for election as the results of the New Brunswick election continue to roll in.

Cardy resigned after losing in the riding of Fredericton West-Hanwell to PC candidate Brian Macdonald and resigned as party leader.

ELECTION RESULTS: Live election results on Globalnews.ca

He said the party would hold a leadership race in the coming weeks.

Alward was elected in his riding of Carleton and Gallant was elected in his riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe.

As 10:10 p.m. more than 306,000 ballots had been counted, with the Liberals leading or elected in 25 ridings and the Progressive Conservatives leading or elected in 23 ridings.

WATCH:Its still neck and neck between the Liberals and Tories. The Liberals are maintaining their slim margin much to the chagrin of one PC supporter who joins Shelley Steeves.

Green Party leader David Coon opened up a lead in the riding of Fredericton South over PC candidate Craig Leonard in his bid to become the first candidate from his party to win a seat in the provincial legislature.

Finance minister Blaine Higgs was elected in the bellwether riding of Quispamsis, while health minister Ted Flemming was elected in Rothesay.

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Liberals, Tories locked in tight race as N.B. election results arrive