Premier Gordon Campbell and NDP leader Carole James both hedged a bit when asked last week if they're going to be around to face off a third time in 2013.

The sudden retirement of Manitoba Premier Gary Doer follows the winning formula of former B.C. premier Bill Bennett and former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna: win three elections, serve 10 years and move on. Campbell, now the dean of Canadian premiers,  hits the 10-year mark in 2011.

"Well, I've outlasted him, I guess," Campbell said when asked if he would take any lessons from Doer. "I'm actually looking forward to the next four years. I think there's some challenging but important things we've got to do for British Columbia to keep building on the successes we've had."

Pressed by CKNW reporter Sean Leslie to confirm he'll stay on for the 2013 vote, Campbell chuckled and replied, "Yeah. Do you plan to be here in 2013?"

Campbell also tried to laugh off a new poll that shows B.C. Liberal support plummeting after the government's decision to expand B.C. sales taxes by harmonizing them with the federal GST.

"Well, I'm really glad the election's in 2013, I can tell you that," he said.

That same Mustel poll suggests that while the NDP is benefiting from the storm of protest over the HST, James isn't.

James said she is "not at all" concerned about her personal polling numbers.

"I'm going to continue the work we've been doing," James said. "I'm going to continue to make sure we're fighting this HST. We have a few months to be able to do that. I'm not convinced the premier won't back down, and I'm going to keep the fight up."

Pressed to make her own intentions clear, James said: "We'll see when it gets to 2013, but if the premier's in the race, I'm looking forward to running against him."

She also hinted that voters might not have to wait until 2013, as anti-HST rallies and even local recall efforts grow.

"It will take eight Liberal MLAs to vote against the government," James said.