A few interesting developments today in the NDP Leadership race:
- Leadership candidate Martin Singh is telling his supporters that after marking him as number one on the preferential ballot being used in the race, they should mark rival Thomas Mulcair as number two. This comes after a week in which the Brian Topp campaign has been suggesting that there is a formal pact or some other kind of collusion between Singh and Mulcair. Singh actually issued a statement about this today, saying: “Brian Topp’s recent insinuation that I have been coordinating my campaign with Mr Mulcair’s is completely false. It is insulting and demeaning to my supporters and me. I am running to win, which means my first priority is to defeat Mr Mulcair, Mr Topp and the other four candidates. Second choice is second choice.”
- Mulcair, today, won an endorsement from his caucus colleagues and lost one. Jack Harris, the popular Newfoundland MP announced he was endorsing Mulcair’s candidacy. Meanwhile, Quebec MP Sana Hassainia who had endorsed Mulcair withdrew her support for his candidacy and, instead, threw it to Topp. Hassainia cited differences in tax policy for the switch. Go figure.
- Nathan Cullen picked up a caucus endorsement. Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer thinks Cullen is the best person to replace Jack Layton.