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NEWS |
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| ELECTORNIC EDITION |
| 2006-12-02 |
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GLOBAL CHINESE PRESS |
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Dion surges to victory
2006-12-02 15:31 Globe and Mail | MONTREAL — Stephane Dion won the Liberal leadership on Saturday in an upset, defeating Michael Ignatieff, who had been the front runner coming into this convention.
The final battle between the two former professors was not decided until the fourth ballot.
Mr. Dion surged into the lead on the third ballot and went on from there, winning a clear majority of 54.7 per cent of the vote.
Mr. Dion was the only candidate from Quebec. He now becomes the third party leader in a row from the province.
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Some felt his imperfect English was a political liability. The Montreal MP, however, impressed many rank-and-file Liberals with his dogged determination.
The former academic logged thousands of kilometers crossing the country, hauling his trademark leather knapsack and speaking at a drop of the hat on the environment and other policy issues.
Mr. Ignatieff, a former Harvard professor, ran a well-organized campaign, but his views on Iraq and other foreign policy issues, coupled with the fact he's spent most of his career outside of Canada, bothered a number of Liberal delegates.
The leadership race was widely acknowledged as the most wide open contest in a generation.
Mr. Dion secured 2521 votes to win by a margin of 437 in the fourth and final ballot of the convention in Montreal.
"I'm so happy, I'm so honoured to lead my party," he said immediately after the result was announced.
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