Romeo Saganash backs Thomas Mulcair for NDP leadership

PHILIP AUTHIER
Postmedia News

MONTREAL — Romeo Saganash, the former New Democratic Party leadership candidate, has decided to back Thomas Mulcair.

In a statement released Wednesday and published in the Abitibi Express, Saganash said that after much thought, he thinks Mulcair is the best candidate in the race to replace Jack Layton.

“Of all my great colleagues who have offered to be our next leader, I believe that Tom is best able to lead all Canadians into that better future together,” Saganash said.

Saganash had dropped out of the race in February. He is the second former leadership candidate to back Mulcair. Nova Scotia MP Robert Chisholm also tossed his support to Mulcair.

And on Wednesday Mulcair bagged the editorial support of the Montreal daily Le Devoir. Saganash is the MP for the northern Quebec riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou.

The candidates hoping to replace the late Layton as leader of the party include longtime party organizer Brian Topp, MPs Mulcair, Paul Dewar, Peggy Nash, Nathan Cullen and Niki Ashton and Nova Scotia businessman Martin Singh.

The vote for NDP leader will take place March 24 in Toronto.

The number of NDP members has increased by more than 50 per cent in the past few months, a sign that interest is rising as the party approaches its leadership vote next month.

As of late February, there were 128,351 members, up from 83,824 in October.