2013 Ontario Liberal Leadership Race
On November 12, 2012, Kennedy announced that he was seeking the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party to replace Dalton McGuinty.
At his campaign launch in London, Kennedy criticized the government's Bill 155 to ban teacher's strikes and freeze wages. Of the seven candidates, Kennedy has said he would consider repealing the bill.
Former Liberal MPP Steve Peters gave his endorsement at the launch. On November 16, 2012, he gained the formal support of former cabinet minister George Smitherman and Joseph Cordiano On November 21, 2012, Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor endorsed Kennedy. Kennedy has also gained the support of MPP's Bob Delaney and Shafiq Qaadri.
Early polls placed Kennedy ahead of other candidates to replace Premier McGuinty, helped by his name recognition from his federal and provincial work, and his high-profile role as director of the Food Bank. In a poll of Torontonians released on November, 19, 2012 by Forum Research, 22% said they would support Kennedy for Ontario Liberal Leadership, followed by Kathleen Wynne (11%), Sandra Pupatello (6%), Eric Hoskins (5%), Glen Murray (4%), and Charles Sousa (1%). Among Liberal voters, Kennedy scored first with 32% support.
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