The incredible shrinking lands
And a Liberal love-in
ABOVE THE FOLD
LIBERAL LOVE-IN — NATE ERSKINE-SMITH and YASIR NAQVI have Grit circles on tenterhooks as they’re poised to make a mystery joint announcement this afternoon.
Cue speculation. Could one leadership candidate pull an ADIL SHAMJI and back out of the race to endorse the other? Will they pitch a twofer platform policy? Are they going to ask card-carrying Liberal supporters to rank each other as their second choice on the ballot?
We’ll find out at noon on the South Lawn — but my sources are betting it’ll be the latter.
Between the lines: The idea is that by ranking each other first or second on the ticket, it would knock frontrunner BONNIE CROMBIE off her pedestal. Crombie’s camp previously told me they’re feeling confident that she’ll win on the first ballot, given that she leads the pack when it comes to name recognition, fundraising, membership sign-ups and heavyweight endorsements.
Cue snark. “Whatever it is, it’s a desperate play for attention,” said one senior operative fro…