The outlines of a political alliance that could overtake Liberal leadership frontrunner Michael Ignatieff at next month's convention are beginning to take shape.
Yesterday, Mark Holland, MP for Ajax-Pickering and Ontario chair for Gerard Kennedy's campaign, told the Toronto Star his camp is talking with Stéphane Dion, former cabinet minister from Quebec, about a potential alliance.
It's the first time a leadership candidate has been so blunt about strategy for the leadership convention, slated for Montreal Nov. 28 to Dec. 3, and it may have been because Ignatieff's people speculated publicly on what Kennedy delegates would do.
Published reports have said supporters of the former Harvard professor believe they can win a substantial number of Kennedy delegates, particularly from Ontario and the West, after the first ballot in Montreal.
"There have been discussions between Dion and ourselves, not with Ignatieff," said Holland. "There have been informal conversations about the need to work more closely together. ... Stéphane's strength is in Quebec and it's francophone, Kennedy's support is more among anglo Canadians. Their policies work well together. It's a natural fit."
The Dion camp last night did not deny that talks are taking place.
I wonder what one would end up dropping out? I doubt it would be Dion.
Kennedy's support across Canada was greater than Dion's.. if Dion were to throw his support behind Kennedy, it'd guarrantee a Liberal victory since Kennedy is definitely capable of taking Ontario and with Dion's support in Quebec, the Harpocrites would be essentially wiped off the map in that province.
I'd be disappointed if he were to drop out and throw his votes behind Dion.
As I've stated before elsewhere, the last thing this country needs is yet another PM from Quebec. Although, I'd still prefer that than the current waste of skin that occupies 24 Sussex..
I think this is a great move. Kennedy is the one with the least baggage (and I know I'm repeating myself), and I echo Otis's take on the whole country being represented. If Gerard can come out with a couple of strong policies aimed at the tories in the next fgew weeks, he could get this as a compromise candidtae that gives the grits a chance at a clean slate.
Luther Wrote:
a butt load of people who sit in those small cubicles pretending to work while submitting a "take."
Canadian, without a doubt Kennedy could beat Harper. In fact I'd say almost any one of the top 4 contenders for the Liberal leadership would beat Harper.
Case in point, I was speaking with a couple this past weekend and the converstation rolled around to how one of their kids has really been struggling with their asthma. According to their doctor, this year in particular, the number of cases of asthma being seen in doctor's practices, hosptials has soared in comparison to the last number of years.
Which then led to the topic of the real need to clean up the environment and how they were really disappointed by the Conservatives lack of an enviromental plan. This couple voted Conservative last time around and expected better. The lack of an environmental plan, their coming to realise that the $100 child tax credit for their one child under the age of 6, really isn't all that Harper promised them it would be. Seems they're just a bit ticked off that they weren't informed that that was $100 before it was taxed and just by shear coincidence, the daycare facility which their youngest one attended, also happened to raise their fee by $45 per week.
So much for their affordable daycare...
Anyways, they've decided that if the Green's put forth a strong candidate in their riding, then that's who they'll vote for. If not, then their second choice will be to vote Liberal. Harper's lack of full disclosure about his campaign promises coupled with his performance to date have turned them off of the Conservatives no matter what promises they make between now and the next election.
Add to that what The phantorino has said about it...
