GERARD RULES!!!

Yes, your defrocked priest of social justice isn't doing too badly, is he?

But let's see what your reaction is when he endorses Ignatieff on the fifth ballot....

Kennedy is in a hurry to get to the top and I think he will get on board the Ignatieff bandwagon quickly to do that. If Ignatieff can get him to fold by the third ballot, he can wrap things up quickly, and Kennedy will do that if it means he gets to be "kingmaker" and the "future" of the Liberal Party. In reality, he looks a whole lot better on paper than he does in person but given time... maybe he can grow...

If Kennedy wants to maximize his chances of being leader someday, doesn't it make more sense to go to Dion? I mean, if an Anglo from Ontario (Ignatieff or Rae) wins the leadership this time, what are the odds another Anglo from Ontario will be supported for next time? Not very high ... by that time, Dion will have an even stronger national network, and undoubtedly there will be other strong Quebec candidates emerging like Cauchon etc. No, I really think Kennedy either has to win now (unlikely) or hope that Dion wins, otherwise he is sitting out two leadership cycles which would put him well into his sixties.

In 4-8 years, he can perfect his french, develop a real network in Quebec (and maybe even finish his college degree by correspondence!). Then you have a well rounded candidate in his prime perfectly positioned to be leader and PM. It would be a shame if he missed both this leadership cycle and the next one.

If Kennedy goes to Iggy, he will have to stand in line behind all of the other opportunists in caucus who have lined up behind Iggy. Nothing good for him there. With Rae, he has to line up to get in to see Eddie Goldenberg to get an ear.

Might as well stick it out and try and win.