But what does it all mean?

John Manley passing up the Liberal crown has probably shocked a lot of people - about as many as would be shocked if Frank McKenna decided not to run.

This radically changes the dynamic of the race. Is there any candidate comparable in strength to McKenna now? Where will Manley's supporters go - no doubt, Manley would have won a significant number of delegates, so with him not there, a vacuum is created which will have to be filled by other candidates. Will they support Brian Tobin, the other Captain Canada? Or will they jump on the McKenna bandwagon like so many people seem to be? (Me, I'm suspicious of bandwagons, personally - remember John Turner and Paul Martin's?)

While Manley was not my first choice (in fact, he wasn't even my fifth), I will miss what he could have brought to both the race and the party. This is indeed puzzling - for ages Manley seemed like such an obvious contender, but with him gone, the race for funds and delegates in at least one wing of the party is open again. Should be quite interesting.