Revenge of the comment section: Could any of these Conservative candidates defeat Trudeau?

Hours before the final debate of the Conservative leadership race, Kevin O'Leary dropped out of the race and endorsed Maxime Bernier. Reactions to the last-minutemove were mixed, but there was one thing CBC commenters largely agreed upon: this slew of candidates is really ratherunimpressive.

Unfit for government

O'Leary's limited familiarity with the goings on in Canada and his abysmally limited understanding of the Canadian Constitution, like the powers and authorities of the provinces, made him totally unsuited for any government position, let alone as leader of a federal political party. I'm happy with his endorsement of Bernier.

-Robin Rousham

Quit catering to Quebec

Stephen Harper won a small majority without Quebec and it is time we quit catering to that province.This is one of the reasons we need another party to vote for to stop the insanity of Canada's concerns getting shaped by Quebec. My Canada includes all the provinces and territories.

-Ed Betterley

It's not Quebec, it's you

I cannot understand O'Leary's explanation. The truth more likely has to do with the factthat his numbers on whether he could win the party leadership aren't adding up. Without the leadership, he cannot stomach being on the sidelines under another leader.

He will not run for Parliament in the next election, and endorsing Bernier does not mean his supporters will flock over to Maxime or even cast a ballot. Harper proved you can form government without significant Quebec support.

-B. Jason MacPherson

Good for O'Leary

O'Leary finally gained my respect. I expect he really thought about how his ways of thinking about government were a little bit too much like those of DonaldTrump.

As for the remaining candidates, the one I like the most is MichaelChong. I'm not thinking of voting Conservative, but I would hope that they have a credible leader, one who I felt I could trust more than JustinTrudeau.

-Hank Burnaby

Can't be serious

That anyone would have considered Kevin O'Leary a serious contender for more than a blink of an eye is mind-boggling. A blow in from the U.S., a TV personality with an over-inflated ego who thought he was a shoe-in and didn't need to stump for votes. It is tough to drag a political party of such low repute as the Conservatives to an even deeper level of shame but, by God, Kevin did it.

-Pauline Mott

Chong can fix democracy

From my point of view, what makes MichaelChong unique is his deep appreciation for the power that riding associations must have in all parties if we are to have an assuredly functioning democracy. He alone, among all potential or present party leaders, knows what it takes to fix our democracy.

Trudeau's recent Liberal Party reforms further diminish the power of riding associations, which are now little more than fan clubs for the leaders. Fix democracy in Canada and support Chong.

-Neil Maclean

No buzz, just relief

Stephen Harper stepped down as party leader in the fall of 2015, and regardless of when the leadership race formally began, speculation about who will be the next Conservative leader has been going on since then. New leaders are supposed to generate a bit of excitement. This one will probably just bring relief that it's finally over.

-Don Luft

Unsuited

Cookie-cutter Conservatives. I'd vote for the first one in a Don Cherry-designed creation.

-Thomas G. MacMillan

Chong should start a party

Dear Mr. Chong, after the Reform Party elects one of their own, please organize with other conservatives who share your views and either resurrect the Progressive Conservative Party or start a new party that reflects Canadian conservative principles. It would be the greatest service you could provide to your country.

-Gerard S. Chive

Sure, why not?

The candidates are just doing what the party allows them to do. Join the race after the debates have started? Sure, why not?

Don't want to participate in the debates? Sure, why not?That's how you win over CPC voters, by not participating. Don't want to earn a seat in the House of Commons? Sure, why not?The CPC doesn't care about your ability to represent any constituents.

-David Allan

No prime minister here

These people will all be to old by the time Mr. Trudeau declares retirement.

- David Conway

Comments have been edited for length and clarity.