Candidates scrambling as race nears end
Mulcair still the odds-on favourite, but other contenders aren’t giving up just yet
TORONTO – The NDP leadership race, widely viewed as a boring marathon with few memorable moments, is about to wrap up with an unpredictable and potentially exciting finish.
Thousands of New Democrats began arriving here Thursday for a two-day convention in which the next leader will be chosen.
Montreal MP Thomas Mulcair is believed to have the edge over his six rivals and is expected to place first on the opening ballot.
But his victory is far from certain, and the other contenders are jockeying for position in the hopes they can overtake Mulcair on subsequent ballots.
The four leadership contenders who could stand a chance to stop Mulcair are: B.C. MP Nathan Cullen; Ottawa MP Paul Dewar; former party president Brian Topp; and Toronto MP Peggy Nash.
As the front-runner hoping to avoid a stumble, Mulcair kept a low profile Thursday and did not make any public appearances.
Dewar popped into his campaign office at the convention site to chat up staff working the phones and to get a sneak peek at the buttons, sticks and bandanas bearing his name.
He said he isn’t fazed by comments made by Phil Edmonston, the first New Democrat to win a seatin quebec, back in 1990. Edmonston argued earlier this week that the party would face electoral disaster in Quebec – where 58 of its 102 MPS are elected – if it didn’t choose Mulcair.
Dewar maintained his French supporters have confidence in his language abilities and that he is the only candidate with “a pathway to victory” in 2015.
In an interview with Post- media News on Thursday, Cullen said he will deliver a strong message to the convention Friday that it is time to adopt a more positive tone.
“As the campaign has heated up there have been some personal attacks that have not been helpful,” Cullen said.
“With the opponent we are facing in Parliament, we might have picked up some bad habits.”
In recent days, Mulcair was hit by a “whisper” campaign that questions his credentials because of his record as a Quebec Liberal.
As well, former leader Ed Broadbent has questioned whether Mulcair’s temperament is suitable for leadership and whether he is poised to bring the party too far to the political centre.
“There have been some personal attacks that have not been helpful.” NATHAN CULLEN
Cullen has advocated cooperation with the Liberals in the next election to ensure the Conservatives don’t win another majority.
Nash told Postmedia News Thursday she will deliver a key message to New Democrats. She will argue that she is the one candidate with all the qualities needed for the leadership.
About 3,500 new democrats are expected to attend the leadership convention, but roughly 130,000 card-carrying members of the party have been eligible to vote in recent days – either through the mail or online. By mid-day on Thursday, 37 per cent of the total membership had cast their ballots. The final tally was to be announced Friday morning when ballots close at 11 a.m. – just before the contenders take the stage to deliver speeches.