The Progressive Conservative Association leadership selection rules changed prior to the 1992 convention, moving away from the caucus system to the "one member, one vote" system which required one candidate to get a plurality of votes. Party membership could be purchased and provide voting rights up to the close of the polls. Klein faced strong competition from Edmonton MLA and Minister of Health Nancy Betkowski, and seven other candidates. Klein campaigned for Progressive Conservative leadership in part by making arguments similar to Liberal leader Decore's. He favoured a near-immediate balancing of the provincial budget and rapid debt repayment thereafter, and declared his government "out of the business of business". Klein was criticized throughout the leadership campaign by reporters, politicians and other candidates for his hand's off approach to governance and notability for partying. Leadership hopeful and Minister of Culture Doug Main was especially critical charging ""We can't win this province back - we can't be the government - with a smoking, drinking, paving, premier"".