Erin O’Toole banks endorsements from high-profile UCP MLAs, premier

Ahead of Friday’s Conservative Party of Canada leadership vote, contender Erin O’Toole reminded the Twitter crowd of his endorsement from Premier Jason Kenney (and contrasted it with the Toronto Star’s endorsement of his rival, Peter MacKay). 
 
Last year, Kenney said Rona Ambrose would be his “first choice” for CPC leader, but when she decided not to run, he backed O’Toole. 
 
Kenney, O’Toole and MacKay all served as cabinet ministers under ex-prime minister Stephen Harper. 
 
O’Toole has also garnered public endorsements from 15 other UCP MLAs and cabinet ministers, including Jason and Jeremy Nixon, Demetrios Nicolaides, Tanya Fir, Kaycee Madu, Josephine Pon, Michaela Glasgo, Miranda Rosin, Mike Ellis, Nicholas Milliken, Ric McIver, Rajan Sawhney, Rebecca Schulz, Dale Nally and Rick Wilson. 
 
While MacKay has advertised his endorsements from provincial lawmakers in other provinces, such as Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, he doesn’t appear to have got much traction with the UCP. 
 
A number of federal MPs from Alberta ridings have backed him, and so did ex-Wildrose leader Brian Jean.
 
UCP backbencher Dan Williams has thrown his support behind social conservative candidate Leslyn Lewis, as has ex-PC finance minister Lyle Oberg. 
 
The winner of the CPC leadership race will be announced Sunday evening.