This week, John Godfrey will join the parade of prospective federal Liberal leadership candidates who have strutted their stuff for British Columbian Grits. According to our operatives, Mr. Godfrey will be attending a reception hosted at the humble abode of Farris, Vaughan, Wills and Murphy LLP partner James Hatton and his wife Jennifer (nee Schlotter) at 7:00 on Thursday. We're told the reception invite includes the same disclaimer deployed by Mark Marissen and Christy Clark: "This is neither intended nor should be interpreted as an endorsement of any particular candidate for the upcoming leadership race in the Liberal Party of Canada but rather a chance to meet and help form the debate to ensure BC issues are front and centre." Mr. Godfrey will also be schmoozing with the University of British Columbia's Political Science Students' Association. at 2:00, with another event planned for 5:00. And he's expected to make a whistestop in Victoria.
What will his float look like?
March 13, 2006
Who?
John Godfrey is the guy that lead the "new Deal for Cities" under Paul Martin. Don't dismiss so quickly- he is loved by nearly every Mayor and City Councillor in the country from the smallest towns to the biggest cities.
1. The convention will be in November meaning that the membership cutoff is around June. This means that the current membership which has been largely maintained will make the decision. Or rather the Martinite organizers who will control those DSMs. My guess is they'll go with Dryden.
2. The Chretienite forces are lined up behind Bob Rae.
3. With the new fundraising limits, no former minor league cabinet Minister from Toronto can make a national impact and since at least Stonach, Ianno, Godfrey, Volpe, Bennett are testing the waters - this splits up the Toronto money and signups.
4. Goodale is still lobbying to be the Martinite pick but the income trust scandal has wounded him. The "braintrust" believes that Dryden's star power and name recognition will pull a lot of votes outside their core urban strongholds.
5. They really need a current MP to win or a safe byelection as they will need the leader in the House when they launch their counterattack during the Spring 2007 budget.
Bob Rae will be very tough to beat, he will build a strong team across canada.
Dryden doesn't have a chance. The real battle will be between Rae/Dion/Stronach.
I wonder if Christy and the Marrissen lackeys will have an event for Bob Rae?
Rae will have to actually visit BC first before we find out.
Ye who spends money, will reap the rewards. Yet ye who promises money, but loses an election in between, without spending enough money on name recognition, well they don't win. John Godfrey who? Bon Rae, what? Give me a break kool aid drinkers. Find a big name with big money, if you want to find the next prime minister.