Grits need uniting leader, Ignatieff says

[Minstrel Boy]

London Free Press, Feb 15:

The man some describe as a front-runner to lead the federal Liberals describes his party as "deeply factionalized and divided."

...

"We've got to stop this trite and shallow anti-Americanism" and avoid negative campaigning, he said.

"Our campaign ads were a disgrace, an insult to the intelligence of the Canadian voter. We went negative and we had no business doing that. We can't do that again.

...

"Of course, I'm thinking about the leadership," he said. "I'm thinking about it as a possible candidate. But when I say I'm thinking about it, I mean just that. I'm not being coy. I don't know if I've got the language that lights the Prairies on fire."

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/National/2006/02/15/1443241-sun.html

[Spazito]

1. How many Canadians even know who he is, what he stands for?

I bet there are not many so, if the Libs choose him, how are they going to sell him VERY quickly? I would think they would go for a better known person like Ken Dryden or another well known name rather than an un-known but who knows.

[Minstrel Boy]

2. It's interesting Ignatieff and Rae were roommates

and remain close friends. I doubt they'll run against each another, and they're likely hashing it out together. I'd give the nod to Ignatieff as the one most likely to. I could see Rae then running as a Liberal candidate.

[Spazito]

3. Well, given how Harper is already repeatedly shooting himself

in the foot, the faux Con government will be lucky to last a year so the Libs have to move fast, imo.

[V. Kid]

4. True, but both would be big risks, and come with a lot of baggage.

[AX10]

6. I agree. The sooner the Libs have their new leader in place....

the harder it will be for Harperbush to "govern".

[MrPrax]

5. Invoking 'prairie fires' ...

as a metaphor is not likely to endear him to folks out West.

I hate to be a nativist redneck over this one, but a guy that has spent that much time outside of Canada is really not a desireable choice, especially if one of his major concerns is 'US perception management'.