Following up on my earlier post, let's add a few more possible NDP leadership candidates to the mix based on suggestions (here and elsewhere) as well as media reports on the race.
Pat Martin
I'd left him off my earlier list despite his long service as an MP based on the lack of any obvious rationale for his possible candidacy. Now that he's proposing to run as the pro-merger candidate, that problem figures to disappear - but while I do see it as a potential plus to discuss the issue, I'm far from convinced that it's a winner in the leadership race.
Target groups: Rural voters
Issues: Merger with the Liberals, good government
Anne-Marie Day
If Boivin elects not to run, Day's experience as a women's issues advocate may make for a worthy alternative choice among the NDP's new female Quebec caucus. But she'll have lots of work to do in building up a national profile.
Target groups: Quebeckers, labour
Issues: Poverty/inequality, women's issues
David Miller
Like Peggy Nash, a potentially strong GTA candidate on paper, but one who figures to have difficulty gaining traction if Olivia Chow makes a run. And he may also face some resistance within the party after letting his membership lapse. I wouldn't expect Miller to jump into the race quickly, but he might be a candidate to get drafted later if the initial field starts slowly.
Target groups: Professionals
Issues: Good government, poverty/inequality
Anne McGrath
A very similar profile to Brian Topp, and I take the fact that Topp has opened the door to a run as meaning that the other members of Layton's non-parliamentary inner circle won't be pursuing the job. But McGrath has performed ably in public roles over the past few years, and could well slide into the role of successor to Layton if Topp and Chow take a pass.
Target groups: Labour
Issues: Women's issues, good government
Stephen Lewis
Beloved, respected, a powerful public speaker with loads of political experience. But Lewis will turn 78 shortly after the 2015 election, which is why I'd see the next generation as the better option if the NDP is to elect another leader from its best-known dynasty.
Target groups: Young voters, professionals
Issues: Poverty/inequality, human rights
Gregor Robertson
Another high-profile outside candidate with some obvious strengths should he choose to run. But Robertson is demurring at this point, and might not have the national profile to emerge from the pack if he enters the race late.
Target groups: Young voters, ethnic communities
Issues: Economic development, environment
Carol Hughes
As a bilingual rural MP with a labour background, Hughes could serve as a bridge between many of the groups the NDP needs to bring together. It remains to be seen whether she'd be able to inspire party members to rally behind her, but the leadership race may make for an ideal opportunity to find out.
Target groups: Rural voters, labour
Issues: Poverty/inequality, human rights
Alexandre Boulerice
By all accounts one of the stars in the NDP's new set of Quebec MPs based on both his communication skills and progressive background. He'd face plenty of questions about his past support for Quebec independence - but considering that the NDP will face (and indeed is facing) those questions anyway, a strong answer during the course of a leadership run could do wonders for both Boulerice's profile and the party as a whole.
Target groups: Quebeckers, labour
Issues: Poverty/inequality, good government
Guy Caron
The NDP's Quebec caucus chair doesn't seem inclined to run. But he'd bring loads of experience organizing activists based on his work with the Council of Canadians, and would make for another choice to build long-term links between the NDP and Quebec's labour movement.
Target groups: Quebeckers, labour
Issues: Poverty/inequality, health care
Jean Crowder
A veteran and well-respected MP who has held plenty of key critic roles in the past. I'm not sure whether language would be an issue, but if not then Crowder's main obstacle looks to be building up as strong an impression with the NDP's wider membership as she has with those who have worked closely with her.
Target groups: First Nations, labour
Issues: Health care, poverty/inequality
Frig - just when I thought you had listed the entire caucus as potentials, you add a part deux.
ReplyDeleteexcellent - the more the merrier!
ReplyDeleteI'll try to refrain from adding any more for now - other than perhaps an explanation as to why a few others don't make my lists when they've been mentioned elsewhere.
ReplyDelete