Patrick Brown's PC leadership bid could lead to 'political fratricide,' experts say

PatrickBrown's entry into the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership racecould lead to ruthless infighting, leaving the partyat adisadvantage,experts say.

"This is a time when the party should be taking all its resources and throwing them at Kathleen Wynne," Jim Warren, a political strategist who has worked with the Ontario Liberals,said this week.

"Instead, they've got the guns pointed at each other and are about to have a 'shootout at the OK Corral.' You will see this real insider fighting political fratricide, if you willof the leaders turning on each other."

Brown entered the race on Friday, just weeks after he resigned in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct made by two women and first reported by CTV.

The other four leadership candidates, preparing foropponents with roughly similar political advantages, will now have to revisetheir game plan to focus onBrown. The former leader already has a base of support and extensive political experience.

"He's been the leader for the last two years. He has sold a lot of the memberships to the members now. Are they PC members or Patrick Brown members?" Warren said.

Either way, Brown's entry into the leadership raceis a gift to the Ontario Liberals, according to Jaime Watt, executive chairof the public relations company Navigator and along-time Conservative strategist.

"I think it harms all the candidates at an important time in Ontario's history," Watt said.

"If I were (Kathleen Wynne)I'd be running to the convenience store to buy a lottery ticket."

Brown registered as a candidate just before the 5 p.m deadline on Friday. He had previously launched an online campaign to discreditthe allegations that led to his resignationSpeaking to reporters outside PC headquarters, Brown said that he believed his name was cleared.

His entry into the race came hours after interim leader Vic Fedeli announced that Brown waskicked out of caucus, prompting questions about his eligibility to run. Party executives will review his candidacy bid and make a decision in coming days.

Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto,saidthe outcome of the executive review is uncertain at best.

"Although he's still a member of the party, the party could suggest he's not in good standing, which is one of the conditions you have to have to run," he told CBC Toronto.

But several PC candidates, at least one MPPand many party membershave publicly expressed support for Brown, a sign that a grassroots movement could be mobilizing to bolster his bid.

"There is an awful lot of members I see on social media who think there was an injustice done to himthat he wasn't treated fairly by the party establishment andby the caucus members. So the grassroots members may very well turn on the party elites and try and send in Patrick Brown," he said.

The party membership will vote electronically for its next leaderbetween March 2 and March 8, with results to be announced on March 10.