the opportunity to assess their delegate numbers and plan without fear of being automatically eliminated. Fraser earned the votes of just five delegates and was eliminated first. Gamble had indicated his willingness to drop out prior to the first ballot and endorse another candidate, but none was willing to meet his demand of a cabinet seat in a prospective Tory government, and the 17 delegates he earned gave him no real bargaining power after the fact. He thus dropped out and tepidly endorsed Crosbie, who also earned Fraser's endorsement. Clark's first ballot showing was considered strong, and seemed to forestall the possibility of his delegates dispersing in great numbers to other camps, which the Crombie and Crosbie campaigns had pinned their hopes on. Pocklington had a disappointing first ballot: the only advisor close to predicting his number had been pollster Michael Adams, who had jokingly guessed "99", a reference to the jersey number of Oilers' star Wayne Gretzky. The strength of Clark's showing influenced Pocklington to immediately move to Mulroney's camp on the floor and endorse him. Wilson's numbers were far below expectations: loyalists had expected more than 300 delegates. The disappointing result made his delegates the main target of the other campaigns. Wilson, visibly shaken by the result, withdrew and endorsed Mulroney after prodding from Pocklington. Crombie remained on the ballot. Second Ballot Clark's vote numbers stalled the second ballot, and Mulroney pulled closer, gaining about half of the support of Pocklington and Wilson delegates; Crosbie gained 140 delegates despite only being endorsed by Fraser and Gamble. Crombie was eliminated. While ideologically in tune with Clark, Crombie and many of his advisors felt cast aside during Clark's leadership, and he endorsed Crosbie, to the great disappointment of the Clark campaign. Clark's inability to gain any support from the delegates of the defeated candidates was generally seen as the death knell of his candidacy and leadership. Crosbie's campaign, knowing that most of the support they required would have to come from Clark delegates, pleaded with Clark to drop out, stating that their delegates preferred Mulroney to Clark 2:1 and that this was the only way to stop Mulroney. During the live television broadcast, Newfoundland Premier Brian Peckford was shown attempting to persuade Clark to drop out and endorse Crosbie to head off a Mulroney victory. Clark and his advisors, however, viewed that such a move would be viewed as personally