The federal Liberal leadership campaign trail has not been kind to Michael Ignatieff. The latest disappointment: today, the Canadian Press's Joan Bryden reports Susan Kadis, his former Toronto campaign co-chair, "has endorsed chief rival Bob Rae." But that's okay. Because, according to an email distributed by the Ignatieff campaign to supporters, "the press are saying" wonderful things about the Ivy Leaguer. For example, consider this quote: "A Michael Ignatieff government would be committed to helping Canada's aboriginal people by encouraging entrepreneurship, settling outstanding land claims and improving health care and housing...." But there just one little problem. There's seven words missing from the end of that sentence: "...the federal Liberal leadership candidate promised Monday." In other words, that's not what the press is saying about Mr. Ignatieff. That's what he's saying about himself. The following is a complete copy of that email.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: What the press are saying about Michael this week / Ce que les médias ont dit de Michael cette semaine
From: Michael Ignatieff

October 27, 2006 * le français suit l'anglais

What the press are saying about Michael this week...
"Ignatieff is an intellectual and a visionary. Given a chance, he will produce ideas. If the Liberals want to be a party of ideas and vision, they should regard him as a real asset."
(Don Lenihan, The Hill Times, October 23, 2006)

"A party aiming low at a minority government will be attracted to Bob Rae's experience while one shooting high at a majority will be tempted by Michael Ignatieff's groundswell potential."
(James Travers, The Toronto Star, October 26, 2006)

"This weekend, Ignatieff sealed his Quebec advantage. He will show up at the Montreal convention next month with the most Quebec delegates and backing a concept whose support in the province extends well outside the ranks of his own supporters."
(Chantal Hébert, The Globe and Mail, October 23, 2006)

"A Michael Ignatieff government would be committed to helping Canada's aboriginal people by encouraging entrepreneurship, settling outstanding land claims and improving health care and housing..."
(Canadian Press, October 24, 2006)

"Liberal leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff is promising to improve the lives of Canadian women and get more of them in Parliament... Employment Insurance reform, a national housing strategy and pay-equity legislation for federal employees are also ideas Ignatieff said he will fight to implement if elected leader of the Liberals."

(Meagan Fitzpatrick, CanWest, October 25, 2005)