Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae rises during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Tuesday June 12, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Adrian Wyld
June 12, 2012 - 1:57 PM
OTTAWA - Liberal party brass will declare Wednesday whether Bob Rae can try to turn his gig as interim leader into a permanent job.
Even though the party's national board of directors is widely expected to give Rae the go-ahead to run for the top job, support is growing for another contender: Montreal MP Justin Trudeau.
The eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau has seen his popularity soar since he knocked out burly Conservative senator Patrick Brazeau in a charity boxing match.
Now the 40-year-old Trudeau says he's being urged to run for Liberal leader, although he insists he will not try for the job this time around.
Other names rumoured to be considering a leadership bid are MPs Marc Garneau, David McGuinty, Joyce Murray and Dominic LeBlanc, as well as a host of defeated MPs and failed Liberal candidates.
The party's national board of directors has a conference call scheduled for 7 p.m. ET tomorrow to sort out the rules and timelines for a leadership race.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012