Well Bob....There Is Always Layton's Job

He certainly is meeting the expectations of the Conservatives, Liberals, Bloc, Greens, etc. and I am sure they would like to see you leading the federal ndp.

Rae knocked out, Dion vs. Ignatieff in 3rd ballot

Updated Sat. Dec. 2 2006 3:46 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The Liberal leadership race is now between front-runner Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff after a third round of votes that pushed Bob Rae out of the race.

"Whoever will win, Ignatieff or me, we will have a united party for a united Canada," a jubilant Dion told CTV News.

"It's always been up to the delegates and the delegates are going to be the ones to decide what is in the interest of the people of Canada," Ignatieff told reporters after the results were announced.

Dion has 37 per cent support after the third ballot, up from the 20.8 per cent he got in the earlier round.

Ignatieff has climbed to 34.5 per cent from 31.6 per cent, leaving him out of the top spot for the first time since the race began.

The magic number is 2,409. To get there, Dion needs 627 more votes. Ignatieff needs 749 more votes.

Meanwhile, new alliances were being formed as Dion and Ignatieff looked to gain delegate-by-delegate support.

Hockey legend Ken Dryden, who first endorsed Rae after being knocked out of the second ballot, shifted his support to Dion after the third round. Dion also gained the support of former finance minister Ralph Goodale.

Ignatieff gained new backing with Judy Sgro and Scott Brison, who initially threw their support to Rae after the first ballot.

"I've been 80 per cent in Mr. Ignatieff's campaign right from the very beginning. I've watched, I've watched, I've watched. You know what? I'm glad Mr. Ignatieff is where he is. This is the last ballot, let's move forward to victory," Sgro said.

While waiting in line to vote for the third round, former Liberal deputy prime minister Anne McLellan said she ran into some Ignatieff supporters who are feeling the heat.

"We ran into people in line, Ignatieff supporters, who are feeling they are in a situation of grave danger at this point if the final ballot is Dion and Ignatieff," McLellan told CTV News.

Rae dropped out of the race after securing only 28.5 per cent on the third ballot.

Bad News! Bad News!

For the liberal trough feeders no matter who wins.