Premier Kathleen Wynne's announcement Saturday morning about conceding the race for premier caught many people off guard, including a number of high-profile strategists and former and current politicians.
Speaking to NEWSTALK1010's Ted Woloshyn, political insider Scott Reid said a move like Wynne's is very, very unusual.
"It's an unprecedented move, and I think kind of indicitave of what's been a pretty unprecedented and surprising election campaign," he said.
Reid explained that by definition, Liberals are pragmatists and it is not an ideological thing - like it is for Progressive Conservative or NDP supporters. And that puts the grits in danger.
"For the Liberals, the risk is that in an election like this where they get squeezed, they could get squeezed badly."
Meantime, those on the left side of the political spectrum felt Wynne's announcement clarified who really belongs in the premier's chair.
"The most important message is to voters themselves here today," NDP strategist Tom Parkin told CP24. "Kathleen Wynne herself counts herself out."
"There's only one vote that makes sense if you don't want Doug Ford's cuts," he added. "Andrea [Horwath] has been very clear: she's open to everybody."
Former MP Olivia Chow is along the same wavelength, telling CP24 viewers that if voters want to stop Doug Ford but they vote Liberal, they're essentially giving their vote to Ford.
The one-time Toronto mayoral candidate was also asked if it's a good time for the NDP to form a coalition government with the Liberals.
"Let's see what the voters decide first," she answered. "Let's not project what's happening on Thursday."
And at a campaign stop on Saturday afternoon, NDP leader Andrea Horwath herself said she's disappointed in Wynne's decision.
"Kathleen Wynne is playing a dangerous game, and that's not what the people of this province deserve," she said.
"It looks very clear to me that she's more interested in holding onto some power herself, but folks have already decided that they don't want the Liberals to hold that power, which is why we're in this very election."
Meantime, PC leader Doug Ford said little about the move, staying on the same messages he has delivered throughout his campaign.
“Our all-star team around me here is ready to step up and govern right away,” he said in a news release. “And we are the only team that has a modest and responsible plan that will deliver real results for the people.”
Asked by a Canadian Press reporter if the decision caught him by surprise, he said his team is focused and has been focused on getting its message out.