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Wednesday 20 May 2009
Klees signs up most members...close race for Ontario PC Leader
Update: Yesterday’s Globe & Mail article went on to say, “Party insiders and his opponents said Mr. Hudak in fact recruited only about 7,000, compared with roughly 8,000 for Ms. Elliott and 9,800 for Mr. Klees.”
I think we are in a real race right now with no clear front-runner. Coronations are a thing of the past. PC party members are independent by nature, and they will make up their minds on who will be the best leader and who has the best chances of winning in the next Ontario election. I believe Frank Klees has the best experience to lead our party and become Premier in 2011.
Overall this close race will be good for the party and in the long run make us stronger because of it. I think it is a good sign for renewal and the grassroots policy process as well. Congratulations to all the campaigns for together getting the party up to 40,000 memberships in total. Thank you Team Klees for all of the efforts that resulted in having Frank Klees declared the leader in membership sales.
-Darryl
Ontario Tory leadership campaign now a neck-and-neck horse race
Hudak drops out of front-runner spot into a three-way contest, opponents say
Mr. Hudak, 41, is competing against three of his colleagues in the Ontario Progressive Conservative caucus to become leader. But to the surprise of many in the party, Frank Klees signed up the most new members by last Thursday's deadline. He was followed by Christine Elliott, Mr. Hudak and Randy Hillier, party insiders say.
Mr. Hudak had been the declared front-runner since the leadership campaign began in March. But party insiders now expect he will be in a three-way race with Mr. Klees and Ms. Elliott. It is widely assumed that Mr. Hillier will be last on the first ballot at the leadership vote on June 27.
"It's a horse race now," John Capobianco, Mr. Klees's campaign chairman, said yesterday.
"The game has all changed completely," a party insider added. "Any one of the three can win it now, but [Mr. Hudak's] got the uphill battle at this point."
Jeremy Adams, communications chairman of Mr. Hudak's campaign, declined to comment yesterday on how many members Mr. Hudak signed up. He also declined to comment on an e-mail sent from Mr. Hudak's campaign headquarters last Friday night that boasted of bringing in 14,000 new members. Party insiders and his opponents said Mr. Hudak in fact recruited only about 7,000, compared with roughly 8,000 for Ms. Elliott and 9,800 for Mr. Klees.
"We're extremely happy with where the campaign is at right now," Mr. Adams said. Mr. Hudak has the most support of any candidate from his own caucus, federal Tory cabinet ministers and presidents of riding associations, he said. "There's a lot of momentum for Tim and there's a lot of support for Tim in all corners of the province."
The Progressive Conservative Party had only about 8,500 members when John Tory stepped down as leader in March. Its ranks have grown to about 40,000 since the membership drive.
Ms. Elliott appears to be the clear winner on the donations front. According to Elections Ontario, she has raised $315,100 so far - all contributions exceeding $100 must be reported to Elections Ontario. "This is hands-on proof that this is a competitive race," said Catherine Pringle, a spokeswoman for Ms. Elliott. "We are extremely encouraged by the generosity of our donors."
Mr. Hudak has raised $154,940 in political donations, according to Elections Ontario. Mr. Hillier has raised $91,800 and Mr. Klees is in last place, with $62,600.
