Would-be Conservative leaders set sights on O’Leary in TV star’s debate debut
HALIFAX — The crowd of more experienced contenders for the federal Conservative leadership set its sights on Kevin O’Leary right out of the gate Saturday as the reality-TV star and aspiring politician made his debate debut in Halifax.
O’Leary’s unconventional, no-nonsense style and celebrity status as star of the U.S.-based program “Shark Tank” has made him the presumptive front-runner — and the primary target for most of the other candidates on the stage, who derided him as inexperienced, opportunistic and politically tone-deaf.
“We have a celebrity-in-chief” in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario MP Erin O’Toole said during his closing statement.
“We don’t beat the celebrity-in-chief with another celebrity-in-chief.”