Img_Press_Progress_26-05-1.jpg
Img_Press_Progress_26-05-1.jpg This article is more than 8 years old

Place your bets! Here are the odds on the CPC leadership candidates

Are you a gambler?

PP.gif

Are you a gambler? 

As the Conservative Party gathers for its first official meeting since losing power last fall, there can be only one question on most people’s minds: who will replace Stephen Harper on May 27, 2017? 

Though not all of the likely hopefuls have declared, a clear field is starting to emerge. 

Place your bets! 

Jason Kenney

Kenney.png

He’s still officially “thinking about it.” He’s also still the race’s de facto front-runner.

Believed to have a strong power base within the Conservative rank and file, especially among social conservatives, Kenney’s vulnerabilities include his talent for tweeting fake images, getting into strange and unnecessary fights on social media, and his weird views on history.

He may want to stay off Twitter for a while to help his odds.

Odds: 5/1

Tony Clement

Clement.png

If at first you don’t succeed…

With the benefit of two leadership races under his belt, Clement also brings almost a decade of experience as a Harper cabinet minister. With an Instagram following unrivaled in Canadian public life, Clement can also go toe to toe with the Prime Minister when it comes to selfies.

His love of gazebos, though, could prove a liability. 

Odds: 8/1

Kellie Leitch

Leitch.jpg

Rumoured to have a large campaign infrastructure behind her, Leitch, who entered federal politics in 2011, may find her stance on women’s reproductive rights out of step with much of the country.

But, apart from her relatively short time in politics, her biggest weakness in convincing non-Conservatives that she’s a potential Prime Minister will always be that she actually pitched a snitch-on-your-neighbour hotline

Odds: 10/1

Lisa Raitt

Lisa_Raitt.jpg
Another Ontario hopeful, Raitt is a match with any of her rivals in terms of cabinet experience.

Some of her past positions, from pushing back-to-work legislation to overseeing cuts to public services, may give her an edge with Conservative activists but prove a liability when it comes to almost everyone else in the country.

And best not to count on the support of postal workers.

Odds: 15/1

Maxime Bernier

Bernier.jpg

With biker-gate probably well behind him, Bernier also has the virtue of being one of the earliest to get out of the gate.

Even more so than many of his colleagues, his history of taking staunchly right-wing positions will undoubtedly be a hit with Conservative activists. His 2015 reelection campaign in Beauce also produced arguably the greatest jingle in Canadian politics

But his attachment to exotic right-wing dogma could be a problem. Conservative values are reflected in China? Bringing back the Gold Standard? Pull the other one, Max. 

Odds: 25/1

Kevin O’Leary

4173791955_bb21114ddd_b.jpg

Pro tip: If you actually want to lead a political party, calling them a bunch of “losers” probably isn’t a winning strategy.

A longtime resident of Boston, O’Leary is best known for his role on reality TV. Advantages? He’s currently the only dragon to enter the race. Disadvantages? Pretty much everything else. 

Will O’Leary’s poorly executed Donald Trump routine win over the Conservative faithful? Only if they’re in the mood to lose again. 

Odds: 50/1

Michael Chong

Michael_Chong.jpg

Best known for his interest in democratic reform and what many regard as a principled resignation from Harper’s first cabinet, Chong boasts more cross-partisan appeal than any of his rivals. If members of Canada’s press gallery got to decide on the CPC’s next leader, he’d probably win in a landslide. 

But Chong may struggle in a field dominated by candidates who wear their conservatism on their sleeves a little more prominently. 

Odds: 100/1

Our journalism is powered by readers like you.

We’re an award-winning non-profit news organization that covers topics like social and economic inequality, big business and labour, and right-wing extremism.

Help us build so we can bring to light stories that don’t get the attention they deserve from Canada’s big corporate media outlets.

 

Donate
PressProgress
PressProgress is an award-winning non-profit news organization focused on uncovering and unpacking the news through original investigative and explanatory journalism.

Most Shared

thumb-2024-10-013-brent-chapman-united-nations News

Take Back Alberta Leaders are Training ‘Scrutineers’ to Infiltrate Campaigns and Act as ‘Security’ on Voting Day

Related Stories

News

BC Conservative Candidate Warned of United Nations ‘Conspiracies’ to Take Control of Canada

View the post
New

BC Conservative Candidate’s Campaign Shared Graphic Comparing Public Health Policies to Nazi Holocaust

View the post
News

BC Conservatives Under Fire Over Spokesperson Known for Insults, Slurs and Online Abuse

View the post
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism directly to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.