On October 23rd, when Gerrard Kennedy arrived at the Liberals first post-election caucus meeting in Ottawa, reporters descended on him with questions about whether he would run for the leadership of his party. He said he had just returned from a family holiday and that, “rushing off in all directions under leadership aspirations could be a problematic thing.”

Krista Erickson

Not any longer, it seems.

CBC News has obtained a copy of an e-mail Kennedy sent to supporters on November 5th, soliciting their feedback on whether he should enter the race. In it, he says, “…I have really been moved by the dozens of e-mails and phone calls I’ve received about the leadership.”

He also lays out a series of questions he believes Liberals ought to ask themselves. Among them, “Who can make people, first Liberals and then all Canadians, believe that renewal of the party — openness, effectiveness and meaningful grassroots engagement — will actually take place?”

Sources in the Rae, Leblanc and Ignatieff camps all believe that Kennedy will likely enter the race. All agree he would be a force in the contest with the potential to influence the outcome once more.

Kennedy positioned himself as a king maker during the last leadership convention, moving to Stephane Dion after the second ballot and taking a great deal of exceedingly loyal delegates with him.

Sources in the other camps also appear to be welcoming Kennedy into the race. Why? Many Liberals believe Kennedy would still have the loyalty of most of his delegates from the last race. So other camps are already salivating at the possibility of what Kennedy and his delegates might do on subsequent ballots were he not able to win.

But a source close to Kennedy says if he enters the race, it’s not to be a king maker. “He would not consider it unless there is a path to win…He feels there is a lot of need for change and he’s looking at whether he can put together a team to lead that change.”

Kennedy’s e-mail says he will make a decision on whether to run within the next week.

Krista Erickson