What would Sheila do?

Canadians think of themselves as followers of U.S. political trends. But as a matter of fact, there are Canadian precedents for Hillary Clinton's tenaciousness in the presidential race - especially as the lone, female candidate.

In 2003, recall, no one seemed to understand why Sheila Copps was staying in the Liberal leadership race, given Paul Martin's lock on victory.

In 2006, Liberal leadership candidate Martha Hall-Findlay hung on to the bitter end, even though it was clear she had no hopes of winning. She was the only woman in the race by the time the convention rolled around at the end of that year.

Perhaps Clinton might want to check in with Copps and Hall-Findlay for advice about whether to keep toughing it out - as the only woman, up against insurmountable odds.

The results here have been mixed.

Copps, as it turns out, wasn't rewarded for her persistence, having to wage a losing fight for her own Hamilton riding in the immediate aftermath of the 2003 leadership.

Hall-Findlay has fared a little better. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion appointed her as the candidate in Willowdale, which she won in a March by-election.

Comments

[Wascally Wabbit]

OOO - you touched a sore spot there Susan - in fact two!
Since you linked the two names...
I was a scrutineer for Sheila in that infamous nomination battle with Tony Valeri..now - there's a lady that knows how to get things done...and inspires loyalty..not because she's a woman...but because she does believe in what she's doing...
Jury is out on Martha I'm afraid (I had a bitter exchange with your colleague Linda Diebel about a some fluff article she wrote on Martha)...Martha was offered a riding that she had connections to - the day after she stood down for Belinda...by Liberals from that riding...and confirmed by Martin's office some weeks later when they got around to it...she declined..for personal reasons..she wanted a Toronto riding...I also offered to put her in touch with Sheila...for advice on how to survive as a woman in a man's world...she apparently felt more comfortable with the Woman in Politics backroom lobby group run by former editor Rosemary Spiers....show me where they have EVER got anyone elected.....