Bevilacqua quits, backs Bob Rae

The Canadian Liberal leadership race got slightly weirder, as "center-right" candidate Maurizio Bevilacqua quits and backs Bob Rae, the former leader of Ontario wing of the social democratic NDP.

Needless to say, it's an odd combination. His stated reasons?

"I'm convinced that Bob Rae is the best person to lead the Liberal Party to victory. He has the experience and the intelligence and the vision to lead Canada into the 21st century," Mr. Belivacqua said at press conference in Ottawa.

This doesn't really give us much information either. It's leadership boilerplate, nothing more.

Perhaps Rae's money advantage and high media profile is starting to have an effect, even if his on-the-ground machine hasn't been up to snuff.