Dion: everyone's second choice

Recent polling shows that the anti-Ignatief candidate could be Stephane Dion:

 

The current front-runner, Michael Ignatieff, who leads on everything from first-ballot support to fundraising, appears the candidate most likely to stall. Dion is the leadership candidate most often picked when delegates are asked who their second choice is, and again when they are asked their third choice. Ignatieff, on the other hand, trails the other three top contenders in both categories.

 

It seems to me that the work that Iggy camp needs to do right now is on that second choice category.  They have to soften up some of these folks, and try to get some momentum when the losers start dropping off on the first couple ballots.  I was talking recently to a Liberal Youth delegate supporting Brison, and she said only one candidate drops out after each ballot.  That makes at least 8 ballots, so stay tuned for a long night...

 

The other interesting numbers are these:

 

Asked if there is "any candidate you would definitely NOT like to see win...23 per cent identified Ignatieff (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) and 18 per cent named Bob Rae, former NDP premier of Ontario. Gerard Kennedy, who resigned as Ontario education minister last spring, scored the lowest at 2 per cent.

 

Wow.  Maybe I was wrong picking Rae as the anti-Iggy candidate.  Kennedy or Dion seem to have more favourable numbers right now.  But this is politics, and lots can change in a short time.  Stay tuned!