And they’re off!

The Liberal Party’s leadership contenders, that is. While some have been quietly organizing for many months, does that give them an advantage?

Not necessarily.

Here’s the LPC race card, so far:

CHRYSTIA FREELAND: She was finance minister and deputy prime minister until Justin Trudeau clumsily attempted to fire her in December, and replace her with the unelected Mark Carney. Livid, Freeland hit back, calling Trudeau’s signature policies “expensive political stunts” — and warning him he faced electoral defeat. She’s been working the phones with Grits ever since. She’s a contender, but can Freeland win? She has two problems. One, she’s still going to be tarred with every Trudeau scandal and misstep. Two, going back to Brutus, history rarely ever rewards the ones who stab their leader in the back (or the front).

DOMINIC LEBLANC: LeBlanc has been the Trudeau government’s Mr. Fix It and is well-liked by most, including Conservative premiers. He’s worn many hats: LeBlanc has been an advisor to Jean Chretien, held multiple senior cabinet portfolios, and studied at Harvard. Dom, as he’s called, is the son of former governor-general Romeo LeBlanc and was even Justin Trudeau’s babysitter. Some,........

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