MP Jaime Battiste drops out of running for Liberal leadership

The race to become the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada is now down to five candidates.

Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste announced Thursday he was dropping out of the race and throwing his support behind former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.

Battiste said in a letter posted on social media that while he was proud of becoming the first Indigenous candidate to lead the Liberal party, he believed the best way forward to advocate and advance his priorities is by endorsing Carney.

“When I began this journey, it was not only to make history again but to ensure that key and important priorities were at the forefront of this leadership race,” he wrote. “The past few weeks have been some of the most rewarding of my political life, I have gained valuable experience, and I am excited for what the future may hold.”

Battiste’s withdrawal leaves Carney, MPs Karina Gould and Chrystia Freeland, and former MPs Frank Baylis, and Ruby Dhalla in the race to replace Justin Trudeau.

A Leger poll this week found Carney — who is focusing his candidacy for the Liberal leadership on his economic credentials — is surging at 34 per cent support among Canadians, with former finance minister Freeland in second place at 14 per cent.

Carney, who has racked up many high-profile cabinet and caucus endorsements, is polling at 57 per cent among Liberal voters, compared to Freeland at 17 per cent.

Gould is sitting at four per cent among both Canadians in general, and Liberal voters in particular.

Thursday was also the deadline for leadership hopefuls to come up with $50,000 of the $350,000 entrance fee in order to remain in the race.