sir_springer Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 Harper set to enter the race Last Updated Mon, 12 Jan 2004 8:44:35 OTTAWA - Former Alliance leader Stephen Harper will officially announce his candidacy Monday to lead the new Conservative Party of Canada. Harper's announcement is expected to come as the only official candidate, Calgary lawyer Jim Prentice, will say he's stepping out of the race because of a lack of funding. Harper, who is considered the front-runner for the March 19-21 leadership vote, will kick off his leadership bid at Ottawa's Lansdowne Park. The 44-year-old Alberta MP will also officially step down as Leader of the Opposition. Veteran MP Grant Hill will take over although Harper will continue to live in Stornoway, the home of the official Opposition. Former Tory leader Peter MacKay is expected to announce Tuesday whether he'll run. Other potential candidates expected to make their decisions this week about running include Alliance MP Chuck Strahl, former Ontario health minister Tony Clement and Belinda Stronach, CEO and president of Magna International Inc. The Conservative Party of Canada was created after members of the Alliance and Tory parties voted overwhelmingly in December to merge. Written by CBC News Online staff Quote
Neal.F. Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 Prentice was too much of a social liberal. He needs to raise his profile by serving as an MP first. Now he's playing in the big leagues, so serious money is required, and consequently harder to come by than when one is a big fish in a small pond. Quote
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