O'Leary is out

[partsman]

So O'Leary has left the race

[sjemac]

Awesome.:happy003 4:

[Selkirk]

No link, no reference, no nothing?!
.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

No link, no reference, no nothing?!
.

I like it, he will support Maxime.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kevi...nier-1.4086583

MAC

[Newview01]

Good.

His support for Bernier shows Berniers true colours.

Bernier was going to get my vote at first but not anymore. Too French.

[densa44]

So who else have we got?


Where is Rug when we need him?

[ReconWilly]

Fine with me...let that snake slither away in shame.

To many willing suckers around these parts....hahaha couldn't keep them off my flies last week...

[5Lgreenback]

It sounds like he's stating that he doesn't think conservatives have a chance in the next election. I'm afraid he's right.

[bat119]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

No link, no reference, no nothing?!
.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kevi...nier-1.4086583

[Dubious]

Good that guys is a bum!

[Newview01]

Originally Posted by 5Lgreenback

It sounds like he's stating that he doesn't think conservatives have a chance in the next election. I'm afraid he's right.

If that is his reasoning it still shows a weak spine.

[Redfrog]

He was only in it for himself. Bernier could lose with Kevin's endorsement.

Kiss of death.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Newview01

Good.


Bernier was going to get my vote at first but not anymore. Too French.

LOL Did he get MORE French in the past 24 hours? Ridiculous.

Who you going to vote for, Leitch? Isn't she too much of a woman?

Glad the pretenders are getting shaken out. I'd rather vote for someone who has put in the time, is willing t fight, has coherent positions on most issues, and doesn't try to stir up controversy and division.

[Selkirk]

Originally Posted by 5Lgreenback

It sounds like he's stating that he doesn't think conservatives have a chance in the next election. I'm afraid he's right.

Read the article again ... http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kevi...nier-1.4086583

O'Leary quote:
"I have extremely high likelihood of winning the leadership race, but no way to win the election because of Quebec," he said in an interview with the Globe & Mail on Wednesday. "You have to win 30 seats. So, who can do that? It's Bernier."

My hat is off to O'Leary for doing a good analysis, and for doing the right thing in passing his support to Bernier. Now, with Bernier, the CPC has a 'Real' chance at winning the next election!

My day's been made!

Selkirk

[covey ridge]

O'Leary probably afraid of Trump.

[colroggal]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

Read the article again ... http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kevi...nier-1.4086583

O'Leary quote:
"I have extremely high likelihood of winning the leadership race, but no way to win the election because of Quebec," he said in an interview with the Globe & Mail on Wednesday. "You have to win 30 seats. So, who can do that? It's Bernier."

My hat is off to O'Leary for doing a good analysis, and for doing the right thing in passing his support to Bernier. Now, with Bernier, the CPC has a 'Real' chance at winning the next election!

My day's been made!

Selkirk

X2. Takes a big man to admit he's not that big after all. O'Leary is a numbers guy first and foremost. He did the math and I agree. Bernier is the horse that'll beat shiny pony in the next race.

Colin

[dmcbride]

Statement regarding my candidacy

Canada desperately needs a change in government. While Justin Trudeau basks in the glow of celebrity status and focuses on his next opportunity for a selfie, he is destroying the strong fiscal position that Prime Minister Harper left Canada in. If Trudeau isn't beaten in the next election, he will leave the next generation of Canadians, those thousands of Millennials I've been talking about, with a mountain of debt and high taxes. This cannot be allowed to happen.

The Conservative Party needs someone who has the best chance of beating Trudeau. Someone who will command the support of Canadians from every region of the country and who can build a consensus among all members of the Party.

I am proud that my team and I have been frontrunners in this 14-candidate race since the very launch of my campaign in mid-January. In particular, I am touched by the 35,335 people who purchased memberships to support our cause. This list includes a whole new generation of young Canadians, many of whom are new to the Conservative Party, and I’m hoping will be lifetime Members.

I am not a politician, so I never pushed a shopping list of promises. I've had only one, to achieve 3% economic growth in Canada. In order to do this, I said I would have to deliver the Conservative Party a majority mandate in 2019 so that we could reverse Trudeau’s irresponsible and destructive policies.

I have now spent four months on the campaign trail. My team has done extensive polling during this time, but more importantly I have spoken directly with thousands of Conservatives from across the country, and the concerns they are expressing are the same.

Here is what I know:
1. Maxime Bernier and I are statistically tied as front runners.
2. Because I am an outsider I have very weak 2nd ballot support.
3. I am extremely strong in the West but have not generated material support in Quebec.
Second ballot support is always a concern for any candidate and all you can do is live with that risk and see where the votes settle.

The Quebec data is a different kind of issue and a big problem for me. There are 78 seats in Quebec, and the Conservative Party currently holds only 12 of them. In other words, the Liberals politically own Quebec. Without growing the Conservative base in Quebec, beating Trudeau in 2019 would be a huge challenge. The Conservatives did it in 2011, but only with a perfect vote split and in a political environment much different than the one that exists today. This is obviously very disappointing for me. As someone who was born in Montreal, I had hoped I would do much better there.

Like the other candidates, I have worked like hell on this campaign and I want the DNA of my policies and objectives to survive into the general election. The candidate that best mirrors my policies is Maxime Bernier, and he has strong support in Quebec. He is perhaps the first Conservative in a long time that has a chance of winning over 40 seats there, which would materially improve our chances for a majority mandate.

So here is what I’m going to do; I’m withdrawing my candidacy from the Leadership Race and throwing my full support behind Max. I’m going to do everything I can to ensure he gets elected, and I’m going to ask my supporters to do the same. Together we will drive Justin Trudeau out of power in 2019, and we will work to get Canada’s economy growing at 3 percent.

This was not an easy decision for me to make but after much thought and deliberation, it is the right one for the Conservative party and the country. The campaign and travelling and meeting with Conservatives has been an experience of a lifetime, and I owe so much to my Team, and the thousands of volunteers and Members that have supported me. Together we will move forward to change Canada’s direction for the better in the election of 2019.

Sincerely,

Kevin O'Leary

[Newview01]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

LOL Did he get MORE French in the past 24 hours? Ridiculous.

Who you going to vote for, Leitch? Isn't she too much of a woman?

Glad the pretenders are getting shaken out. I'd rather vote for someone who has put in the time, is willing t fight, has coherent positions on most issues, and doesn't try to stir up controversy and division.

No, but I now believe he is going to fight for Quebec instead of Canada, earlier on in the race I did not believe that. I also strongly disagree with his position of removing supply management. That alone shows incompetence and ignorance.

I am not sure who to vote for. It will not be Kellie Leitch either.

I'm thinking Scheer or O'Toole.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Newview01

No, but I now believe he is going to fight for Quebec instead of Canada, .

What has he said recently that gives you the impression that he would put Quebec ahead of Canada?

[ACM]

if you want to be PM of Canada you need to be bilingual and decent in both languages. Only exception was Chretien as he was bad in both but with strong character and work ethic it did not matter.Kevin was done from the start. Only one left is Mad Max- going to be interesting to say the least.

[RBI]

Originally Posted by 5Lgreenback

It sounds like he's stating that he doesn't think conservatives have a chance in the next election. I'm afraid he's right.

I do believe his point is that " He " would not have a chance election be he would not do well enough in Quebec as his french speaking ability is very poor ,
hence " For the sake of the party " , he is dropping out and pushing for Bernier

[5Lgreenback]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

Read the article again ... http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kevi...nier-1.4086583

O'Leary quote:
"I have extremely high likelihood of winning the leadership race, but no way to win the election because of Quebec," he said in an interview with the Globe & Mail on Wednesday. "You have to win 30 seats. So, who can do that? It's Bernier."

My hat is off to O'Leary for doing a good analysis, and for doing the right thing in passing his support to Bernier. Now, with Bernier, the CPC has a 'Real' chance at winning the next election!

My day's been made!

Selkirk

Skimmed through it too quickly, I stand corrected.

[Newview01]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

What has he said recently that gives you the impression that he would put Quebec ahead of Canada?

No specific words, just a gut feeling I guess.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Newview01

No specific words, just a gut feeling I guess.

LOL Sort sounds like you remembered he was French Canadian, and that you hate French Canadians.... I could be wrong, but...

[EZM]

I think that was insightful and intelligent of O'Leary to back out and give his support to the only we have in the next election. Good for him.

[dmcbride]

Originally Posted by Newview01

No specific words, just a gut feeling I guess.

I like his plan on equalization. Quebec would be the losers.

http://www.maximebernier.com/canada_...maxime_bernier

[MAC]

Originally Posted by Newview01

No specific words, just a gut feeling I guess.

Alot of Albertans did last provincial election too

Who can take down Justin is all that matters right now.
You can have who you like sitting in Parliament twiddling his fingers as the liberals rule, or you can have someone other than Justin running Canada.
Like him or not, its better for Canada

MAC

[KGB]

Every politician will end up kissing QC arses - too many votes to ignore!
If only one of them can re -arrange the voting structure after the win - that would save lots of grieve to the rest of Canada.

[I_forget]

I liked oleary and I still do. Perhaps hes to blunt for some around here. He tells it like it is. Some of you prefer the soft touch, the typical politician who promises the world and doesn't offend anyone.

[Sooner]

Originally Posted by I_forget

I liked oleary and I still do. Perhaps hes to blunt for some around here. He tells it like it is. Some of you prefer the soft touch, the typical politician who promises the world and doesn't offend anyone.

Agree, I am guessing he did exactly what he planned to do, have some fun stirring the pot, get people talking and thinking about who they should back, then walk as he knew he could not win. He is absolutely right, the party needs to win in Quebec to get back in power. I just hope if it is Bernier that leads the charge, he don't flip on his policies once PM to appease the whinny province.