HALIFAX—As Nova Scotia’s month-long election campaign draws to a close, it appears Tuesday’s vote could be a lot tighter than initially expected. The incumbent Liberals, who are seeking a rare third term in office, were widely expected to cruise back to power at the start of what many predicted would be a quick and sleepy summertime campaign. It was also believed the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic would be its ace in the hole, and while that may still ultimately hold true it’s clear something has happened over the last four weeks. “What happened is a good campaign broke out and the Liberals have been slumping somewhat,” said David Johnson, a political scientist at Cape Breton University, in a recent interview. Johnson credited the Progressive Conservatives and party Leader Tim Houston with running an “excellent campaign,” adding the New Democrats under Gary Burrill had also put in a strong …