Rae gets Alpaca vote

Bob Rae gets the Alpaca Vote. It's not as strange as it sounds.

The latest New Democrat to jump ship to the Liberals is Rae's former agriculture minister, Elmer Buchanan.

The Peterborough-area Alpaca farmer came to the International Plowing Match being held almost literally in his backyard to make his announcement.

"I figured the best shot is the Liberals federally," said Buchanan, in Rae's cabinet from 1990 to 1995.

Buchanan said he's worried that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government will "dismantle" public services like former premier Mike Harris did.

Current NDP leader Howard Hampton, also at the plowing match today, tried to change his mind.

"I said, 'Too late, it's done," said Buchanan, citing Rae's "leadership skills and experience."

Also trolling for support at the plowing match, an important event in rural Ontario, were Rae rivals Scott Brison and Ken Dryden.

No sign of Rae.