Mulcair gains key supporters in B. C.
OTTAWA — New Democratic Party leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair, viewed by many as the front- runner in this month’s contest to replace Jack Layton, has garnered three more B. C. endorsements.
The Quebec MP, who earned the backing last week of expremier Mike Harcourt, will have the support of MLAS Mike Farnworth, Jenny Kwan and Rob Fleming.
Farnworth is the biggest catch, as he has built a significant following in the party after finishing a close second to Adrian Dix during last year’s B. C. NDP leadership race.
Kwan is the most controversial given her lead role in the ousting of former provincial NDP leader Carole James.
The endorsements close the gap somewhat between Mulcair and Topp, who won early backing from many key figures in the B. C. party establishment.
British Columbia is the most powerful regional political force in the race with 39,859 members, representing more than 30 per cent of the 131,152 total nationwide. Ontario is next with 36,965, with Quebec third at 13,987.
Farnworth, in a statement issued from the Mulcair camp, portrayed Mulcair as a winner who can unite centre- left voters and who will be ready to take on Prime Minister Stephen Harper from “day one.”
Topp’s candidacy has been challenged because he doesn’t have a seat and will be forced to win a byelection in Quebec, where the party’s support is sagging.
Another top contender, Ottawa MP Paul Dewar, is the least bilingual of the seven candidates and would face a huge challenge maintaining the party’s huge 58- MP base in Quebec.
“Through Tom’s positive campaign, he has shown he has the vision and charisma to unite progressives across the country around the NDP banner, the same way he helped rally hundreds of thousands of people to vote for us for the first time in Quebec,” Farnworth said in the Mulcair news release.