First Liberal leadership hopeful declares

[Minstrel Boy]

The article also mentions that Martin Cauchon and Gerrard Kennedy are ruling themselves out of running.

Toronto lawyer becomes first declared candidate for Liberal leadership

OTTAWA (CP) - A relatively obscure Toronto lawyer has become the first declared candidate for the Liberal leadership.

Martha Hall Findlay threw her hat in the ring Wednesday, undaunted by the fact that much higher profile contenders have been dropping from the race like flies. "It's a nice change. Somebody actually wants the job," the 46-year-old lawyer and businesswoman joked in an interview with The Canadian Press.

She acknowledged that some might call her aspirations presumptuous, given that she's never held elected office and has only been a member of the Liberal party for a few years.

"I prefer the word audacious," Hall Findlay said.

"I absolutely recognize that that's what people will say and I will say, yes, it is bold. But it is a time now to be bold, reflected even more by the fact that there seem to be a fair number of people who don't want the job."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060208/ca_pr_on_na/liberal_leadership

[Telly Savalas]

1. The big news in that story

is Gerard Kennedy saying he won't run. 'Tis a shame. He'd have made a good leader.