This actually really surprised me. Of the ten candidates remaining, there was only one who I thought might not run in the next election for the Liberals should he lose, and it wasn’t Michael. Maybe this is just another case of Ignatieff choosing his words poorly but I certainly do hope that all ten candidates are firmly committed to running in the next election for the party, win or lose. There are a lot of people who have proven themselves to be very impressive politicians during this race and the Liberal Party is better off with all of them in parliament.

And, just so no one can complain about context, here’s the series of questions:

Q: If you lose the Liberal leadership race, will you run for the party in the next election?

Ignatieff: Depends who’s leader.

Q: Have you indicated there are some that you would not run for?

Ignatieff: No. It really is that I have to look what I am looking at.

Q: Your track record, your history is that you move on to other projects again and again and again.

Ignatieff: In a rival publication.

Q: Yes it’s been suggested that this is just another fling …

Ignatieff: It’s a hell of a fling if it is. I mean, the fling stuff won’t fly. It has been brutal.
Etobicoke-Lakeshore is very very, tough.

Q: But you won’t commit to running in Etobicoke- Lakeshore again?

Ignatieff: I like to serve my constituents well. But you’re asking me an anticipatory, hypothetical about the situation that prevails on the 3rd or 4th of December I am quite confident I will win.

Q: But do you have a commitment to the Liberal party long term?

Ignatieff: I’ve had a commitment to the Liberal party since I was 17. And my commitment to the Liberal party continues. But there are all kinds of ways you can stay committed and involved and active in the Liberal Party of Canada without being an MP.
Q: Without being an MP?

Ignatieff: Being an MP, without being an MP. I have been a Liberal all my life. When I go into rooms, people are glad I am in the room because people have read stuff I
have written which has contributed to their sensibilities to be a Liberal and what Liberal philosophy is. There are all kinds of ways I can serve the party.
Don’t doubt my devotion to the Liberal Party of Canada. You wouldn’t do this occasionally difficult job if you weren’t seriously committed to it. […]