Sometimes being at Queen's Park seems like an episode of Iron Chef. The host will throw an ingredient (issue) out there, and the contestants (politicians) have to do their best with what's given to them.

Tuesday's secret ingredient was subways and transit. It involved a lot of muddled information and back and forth that leaked into Wednesday, with the PCs pushing the point that they want to do what's best in the long-term for Toronto and the Liberals and NDP accusing them of playing politics since the Tories don't have any Toronto seats.

While Tory leader Tim Hudak's strategy was to gain seats in Toronto, cozy up to Mayor Rob Ford & Co so they can unleash "Ford Nation" for the next campaign (as they said they would do during the last) or just to up tourism numbers, it may have hurt Ford's cause.

Since elected, Ford has boasted both commuters and the province wants subway. The problem is, with Tuesday's 65-35 vote against forcing the subway issue, it proved the province is against it. Ford now can't use that bargaining chip to sell the idea to residents and developers.

Was it a smart move for Hudak to jump on the issue? Maybe. It got him and the Tories in the spotlight this week. But since it works against the mayor of Toronto, there may well be no winner in "Battle: Subways".