TORONTO -- More than 3,500 NDP delegates are expected to gather at the party’s Toronto convention this weekend to elect a leader to replace the late Jack Layton.
This time, however, New Democrats watching the proceedings from their television sets at home won’t be left out of the action.
LIVE BLOG: UPDATES FROM CONVENTION FLOOR
Although some 50,000 NDP members have already voted (39 per cent of party members), either online or through a mail-in ballot, thousands more are expected to participate online from the comfort of home, voting round by round as if they were on the convention floor.
“Voting online lets me be more strategic if need be,” said Nathan Cullen supporter Stephen Elliott-Buckley.
Convention Coverage, HuffPost Style: Over the next two days, while NDP members pick their new leader in Toronto, follow HuffPost Canada as our team brings you comprehensive coverage. We'll be posting photos, behind-the-scenes video, opinion and reporting from the convention floor.Follow us at @HuffPostCanada, on our Ottawa Bureau Chief Althia Raj's Facebook Page, on our NDP leadership site, and on our politics page and our front page. Friday, we'll be covering candidate speeches and a tribute to Jack Layton. Saturday morning, we'll be following the rounds of voting that will end with the new leader.
The online voting is a great way to expand democracy within the party without having to cram 70,000 people into one room, the B.C. resident added.
Elliott-Buckley really wants to pick a candidate who will prevent the perceived front-runner, Quebec MP Thomas Mulcair, from winning the race. If Cullen is off the ballot or "too low to stop Mulcair," he said he’ll throw his support behind one of his number two choices, either Brian Topp, Peggy Nash or Paul Dewar, depending on the dynamics on the floor of the convention.
“Voting online also lets me not have to make up my mind on a number two until I need to,” he explained in an email.
On top of sending emails to supporters and engaging on Facebook and Twitter, Cullen's campaign will be employing “hundreds of volunteers” to reach out to delegates face to face, said spokeswoman Coree Tull.
But even with real-time online voting, Cullen’s camp has been encouraging supporters to vote in advance polls. Candidates who haven’t locked-in all their support ahead of the vote risk having members at home, or even at the convention, skip a vote or two, contributing to a slide on subsequent ballots.
“Please note: if you vote in real time (online or at convention), you must vote for Nathan on each and every ballot. Real time voting is not preferential,” Cullen’s team reminded supporters in an email Thursday.
Peggy Nash’s campaign told HuffPost their organizing department will be phoning identified supporters Friday to ensure that everyone has voted.
“In addition, our social media team will be acting in parallel to our floor team to attract new supporters to Peggy as voting unfolds,” Zuzia Danielski, a spokeswoman for Nash said.
“We recognize some 80,000 eligible voters have yet to cast a ballot and we will be doing everything possible to mobilize support for Peggy.”
Brian Topp’s campaign told HuffPost their outreach will target members who aren’t necessarily participating in the action at the convention.
“Our game plan has always been premised on people voting from home. And we are reaching them one on one, volunteer to member in a G.O.T.V. (Get Out The Vote) effort that has been going on for weeks,” said Topp’s spokesman Jim Rutkowski.
Topp’s team will be reaching out to supporters throughout the day Friday and Saturday via telephone and emails, Rutkowski said.
Advance voting officially ends at 11 a.m. on Friday, then the seven leadership contenders will each get 20 minutes to make their final pitch to party members.
Topp’s campaign has already released his video presentation. Other candidates will also tout their cross-Canada support, endorsements and vision for the future.
“In Paul's showcase we will demonstrate the breadth of diversity of support for Paul (shown through multi-lingual speakers and our videos), as well as the energy and excitement that he brings to the NDP (shown through the live musical performance and the whole show),” his spokesman Joe Cressy said.
Dewar plans to highlight his experience, his NDP roots and his passion for the party, as well as his plan to win the next 70 seats needed to form government, Cressy added.
“The showcase is designed for both the audience and television.”
For those attending the convention or participating at home, voting on the first round will begin at 5 p.m. ET on Friday.
After the voting has begun, the convention will turn to an evening spent remembering Layton.
The glossy audio-visual presentation will include a speech by Layton’s widow, Toronto MP Olivia Chow. She’s expected to talk about Layton's desire to inspire love, hope and optimism, and achieve "real changes" in government to address the needs of all Canadians.
LIVE, FROM THE CONVENTION FLOOR
Thank you for joining us. Lots to review here:
Convention Coverage, HuffPost Style: The Huffington Post Canada brings you comprehensive coverage of the NDP leadership convention in Toronto, with photos, behind-the-scenes video, opinion and reporting from the convention floor.Updates at @HuffPostCanada, on our Ottawa Bureau Chief Althia Raj's Facebook Page, on our NDP leadership site, and on our politics page and our front page.
DELEGATES LEAVE THE HALL
After a long two days, delegates file out of convention for good
Mar 24, 2012 | Source: Keek.com
| @ RyanPainterShow : It is AMAZING how quickly ppl have ALREADY written off @ThomasMulcair based on his first speech. You'll see, is all I have to say #ndpldr |
| @ alishasawhney : Muclair represents the new face of the NDP in Canadian politics. Was his lack of vigour in his speech just due to exhaustion? #ndpldr |
| @ seleross : I only have twitter over here. Terrible reviews of speech; no idea what was actually said. #ndpldr |
| @ tomhawthorn : No question. Fiasco of a victory speech by Mulcair. Wonder who'll tell him? #ndpldr |
| @ itsabbeyk : After 7 months of campaigning and 12+ hours of coverage on CBC, it's finally over and an ex-Liberal is leading the NDP. #ndpldr |
| @ freethephoenix : Wonderful speech, Mulcair!! And Congratulations!! Don't heed the haters :) We'll make Canada better for them, too. #ndpldr |
| @ RayCecile : Mulcair's speech didn't say anything about putting a sound policy in place that will help business' create jobs #cdnpoli #ndpldr |
| @ SimStr1 : No fire in @thomasmulcair. We need fire from the left and @ElizabethMay has it. We'll see who inspires youth! #ndpldr |
| @ ocean_raven : Rethinking my support of the NDP now that Mulcair is in the leadership role. I do not trust him. #ndpldr |
| @ evansolomoncbc : Thomas Mulcair says "in order to have first ndp fed govt our party must reach beyond traditional base" #cdnpoli #ndpldr |
| @ IvisonJ : "Our future is limitless, if we get our priorities right" - Mulcair. He made that line sound like he was ordering pizza. #ndpldr |
"From medicare to public pensions, these values are reflected in the institutions we built, institutions we risk losing under the polices of the current government."
| @ Snafulp : @HuffPostCanada There goes Jack Layton's dream and hardwork down the drain..This man is a wolf in sheep's clothing..I am so sad today |
"Democracy can't just mean the right to vote. Democracy must also mean .. knowing that your vote matters."
Mulcair: (paraphrased) The youth are so turned off by today's politics they won't vote. It's not that they don't care, it's that they don't trust their vote will make a difference.
Mulcair talks about the people he met in community centres across the country:
"The voices of those Canadians should not only be heard, they should be at the centre of our national agenda."
| @ rachelmendleson : Broadbrent joins Mulcair, other candidates on the stage #ndpldr http://t.co/qrY9yq5N |
To my mother, my mom, who with her brothers and sistgers is up north watching us, hello!
| @ althiaraj : Thomas Mulcair leaves bleechers to come give his speech to #ndpldr candidates http://t.co/8MiiVF0M |
It's no secret Thomas Mulcair has some unifying to do. Expect to hear much about this in the speech, which will happen momentarily
(CP) Montreal MP Thomas Mulcair has been chosen to succeed Jack Layton as leader of the federal NDP.
Mulcair claimed 57.2 per cent of the vote in a fourth-ballot victory over chief rival Brian Topp, who claimed 42.8 per cent.
The two front-runners were the last men standing after a day-long voting marathon that was plagued by online delays, the result of an attempted cyber-attack on the party's website.
Long-shot candidate Nathan Cullen persisted until the third ballot, outlasting rivals Peggy Nash, Paul Dewar, Niki Ashton and Martin Singh.
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Posted: 03/22/2012 11:41 pm Updated: 03/23/2012 6:59 pm