Chrétien began to lose his battle to keep the leadership and announced he was stepping down in Februrary 2004, (he only stayed on until December, 2003). All Chrétien-supported possible leaders dissapeared along the way, Brian Tobin, Allan Rock, and especially John Manley all dropped out of politics and the bid early on. Only Sheila Copps remained and she may lose her Liberal nomination in her ridding, a move some see as retaliation by the Martin Camp.
In any case, with a sure election some time this spring or summer, the political landscape has changed in Canada. The Grits have moved to the right with a popular Prime Minister who may gain Liberal votes in the West and in Quebec as he is not a Trudeau Liberal as Chrétien was. The Dippers are gaining momentum after at least a year of unofficial campaigning for this eventual election. The Tories are the New Tories (Conservative Party of Canada), as are the Alliancists. The Block Heads are pretty much unchanged although it appears their support has weakened, perhaps due to Paul Martin, perhaps just due to the fact they are a party that either concentrates too much, or not enough on the independance of Quebec.
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