Complex sentence: Lapierre was expected to deliver the vote in Québec, but in the wake of the sponsorship scandal, this was a difficult task as it severely hurt the party's support especially in that province, while the rival Bloc Québécois skyrocketed in the polls.
Split into simpler sentences: Lapierre was expected to deliver the vote in Québec, but in the wake of the sponsorship scandal, this was a difficult task. The scandal severely hurt the party's support, especially in that province, while the rival Bloc Québécois skyrocketed in the polls.