Conditional returns

I'd figured for quite some time that one of the most important questions about Dwain Lingenfelter's run for the Saskatchewan NDP leadership would be his plans in the event that he didn't win the leadership race: would he stay and help to rebuild the Saskatchewan NDP in a supporting role, or would decide it's not worth the trouble without the prospect of becoming premier? Now, Daveberta may have the answer:

High level daveberta.ca informants deep in Calgary's energy sector have heard that Nexen has given Lingenfelter a year-off to contest the NDP leadership, leaving an opening for him to return if his bid is unsuccessful.

In fairness, it's not entirely clear that Lingenfelter would accept the opening to return to Nexen. But if Lingenfelter felt the need to work out a specific time frame for his possible return rather than jumping back into politics with both feet, that has to at least hint at the prospect that he'd do so.

Of course, the point may become moot if nobody else launches a serious campaign. And unless Lingenfelter's campaign has been doing nothing but spinning its wheels throughout this fall, the combination of insider support and an extended head start might make it tough for anybody to catch up.

But if it's now clear that the loyalty which many within the party have to Lingenfelter isn't reciprocated enough for Link to stick around if the leadership race doesn't go his way, then the case for an alternative contender can only become stronger. And hopefully one will emerge before it's too late to present a meaningful choice to NDP members.

(Edit: fixed wording.)