Will there be an open PC nomination in Scarborough?

And a high-profile pick in York-Simcoe

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BYELECTION BUZZ

Now that the countdown to a pair of byelections is on, all eyes are on the PCs as they scramble to find a candidate in Scarborough Southwest and start eyeing a flag-bearer strong enough to keep York-Simcoe blue. The big question is who?

Scarborough Southwest must be called by August 5, and while there’s more runway for York-Simcoe (December 2), one theory is that both races could be held in tandem this summer.

And with heavyweight contender GARY CRAWFORD out of the running in SSW, some party operatives tell me there could be an open nomination contest to pick the candidate in the long-shot riding.

“It would be fair and open,” said one PC insider, acknowledging that if nothing else, it would be an opportunity to show the Liberals “how it’s done” after their own messy nomination contest.

Officially: The riding association president isn’t talking. Unofficially: would-be contestants are already hitting the pavement and kn…