It looks like Bob Rae’s bid to become leader of the federal Liberal party is picking up steam, with additional candidates dropping out to throw their support behind him.  I would consider myself to be more interested and aware of politics than the average person and I personally think that Bob Rae is a great choice for leader and a great person.  But I don’t think that the rest of the province of Ontario will agree.
Bob Rae was the premier of Ontario in the early nineties and had to deal with some pretty major financial challenges through a very bad recession period.  The government introduced a series of controversial policies to reduce spending, including what I remember as several unpaid days off for provincial employees.  These became known as “Rae Days” and as a highschool student I experienced these as seemingly random days off from school throughout the year.  I think that most people will associate Bob Rae not only with the socialist-leaning NDP political party but also with some pretty miserable times here in the most populous province in the country.
I’ve come to see Rae as a very smart man with great ideas and a true passion for Canada.  I’ve heard him speak on the radio, seen some great interviews with him over the years, and most recently as the chancellor of my alma mater, Wilfrid Laurier University.  He is a man who I want to be heavily involved in the governing of my country.
That said, I don’t honestly believe that he can win a popular election given the history here in Ontario and as such I think it would be a bad move for the Liberal party to elect him as their leader.