Ed Broadbent's recent controversial remarks may have ignited interest in the race for the federal NDP's top job, but leadership hopeful Nathan Cullen says the headlines came at too high a cost.
With less than a week to go before the NDP elect their new leader, Cullen said Broadbent's public jabs at perceived leadership campaign frontrunner Thomas Mulcair's political abilities were divisive and detrimental.
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Last week, Broadbent took aim at Mulcair's left-wing credentials, casting doubt on his commitment to the NDP's left-of-centre ideals. The former leader also said he doesn't think Mulcair, a Montreal MP, has the character needed to lead the party. Broadbent said he supports former party president Brian Topp.
Broadbent's attack ignited a fierce debate. Topp's backers said Broadbent's intervention has helped recast a relatively low profile contest between 7 candidates into a two-person battle between Mulcair and Topp.
Others, including Cullen, said the attacks could damage party unity in the long run.
"The party will need someone who is a unifier that can bring people together, and doesn't try to parse apart real New Democrats from ones we don't think are New Democrat enough," Cullen told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.
"I think it's a false debate to be honest with you.
"We need to be unified in our purpose. Our message is one of hope and optimism not about picking fights."
Given the NDP's status as official opposition, Cullen said next weekend's leadership convention is the most important in the party's history. "We've never elected the leader of the opposition.
"It's a huge deal."
Cullen said he hopes New Democrats emerge from the leadership contest unified and ready to take on the Conservatives. "We don't do that by fighting one another."
With little else to indicate the present level of support for the candidates, some have taken their fundraising as a barometer.
According to financial returns filed by each of the candidates with Elections Canada, both Mulcair and Cullen raised more than $30,000 over the past week -- three times more than any of the other five contenders.
Mulcair continues to set the pace overall, having raised almost $241,000 thus far. Topp has raised $204,000, Cullen $175,000, Toronto MP Peggy Nash $167,000, Ottawa MP Paul Dewar $160,000, Nova Scotia pharmacist Martin Singh $60,000 and Manitoba MP Niki Ashton $$40,000.
Cullen has tapped the largest number of contributors -- 1,624, just slightly ahead of Mulcair.
