An article in the Toronto Sun tells us that Joyce Murray has a slim chance of defeating Justing Trudeau in the Liberal leadership race.

Perhaps she does. 

The argument goes that, "in order to dislodge Stephen Harper from 24 Sussex, Liberals, New Democrats, Greens and other so-called "progressives" must, for at least one election, find a way to pool their votes to defeat Conservatives."

So far, so good. That argument is made all the time. The left-of-the-middle spectrum is split into too many factions in Canada.

But then the article tells us, "After all, they reason, Harper's party got 40% of all votes cast in the 2011 general election. If 60% voted for someone else, shouldn't "someone else" have been prime minister?"

Really? Who, then? Elizabeth May?

That is a foolish argument. With all of the parties we have, it is usual for the winner to have less than 50% of the vote. By that argument, almost no leader is "legitimate."

Rob Ford was seen to have won the mayor's race in Toronto by a "landslide," while his actual total was 47%. But there were well over a dozen people splitting up the vote.

Even in the USA, which people think is a two party nation, Bill Clinton won the Presidency twice with less than half the vote each time.

Murray may be able to ride the "unity against Harper" horse to a better position in the race - even to victory - but if she thinks the NDP, Liberals, Greens and others will gather under one banner - her banner - good luck to her.