Conservative Party of Canada Leadership Race Megathread-May 27th 2017

[Vega]

I imagine the chances for MacKay to run are pretty low. He's young enough to do it, though.

[Vega]

3.Peter MacKay: Jeb Bush (or Marco Rubio?)  (Alleged moderates but actually far right conservatives)

More Jon Huntsman than anything. Charismatic younger politico who won't win in practice, but will get a lot of media hype.

[Vega]

O'Leary has only a superficial resemblance to Trump. He is much more urbane and socially liberal. If I was going to compare him to anyone in recent US politics he would be more like Steve Forbes. O'Leary has very hardline rightwing economic views but they are orthodox rightwing views, he would never bash NAFTA or TPP etc...

The prospective Conservative candidate who is really the most Trump-like would be Doug Ford

These are fresh comparisons that are absolutely right.

It seems though anyway that O'Leary is leaning against a run.

[Vega]

Why do Canucks take so long to choose a new opposition leader? Certainly you guys could have picked a new leader the next day/within a few months at most.

Parties will select a capable interim leader to run things for a while. The idea is that a good leader is best found by a fairly lengthy pre-campaign and campaign.