UPDATED: Dewar drops out of NDP leadership race

Ottawa Centre NDP MP Paul Dewar has dropped out of the race to lead the party after amassing only 4,883 first-choice votes, or 7.4 per cent of the total, after ballots were announced at 10:00 a.m, March 24.

"He has looked at the results, and is respecting the decision of the organization and dropping out of the race," Dewar campaign media representative Robin MacLachlan said shortly after results were announced.

Leading the pack are long-time party strategist Brian Topp and Thomas Mulcair (Outremont) with 13,915 and 19,728 first choice votes respectively. Mulcair has secured more than 30 per cent of delegates' first-choice votes after the initial ballot.

Dewar had named MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) as his potential deputy, but he since has endorsed Mulcair for leader.

"Mulcair is the other person who can lead this country," Angus told reporters. "In my region, Timmins-James Bay people are very engaged with the NDP. Paul Dewar had a lot of support in my region . . . I heard some people who said 'if Paul Dewar doesn't make it, (Mulcair) is our vote back home'."

Nova Scotia pharmacist Martin Singh had perviously announced he was swinging his supporters to Mulcair, potentially giving the Ouebec MP a further 4,000 first-choice ballots and more than 35 per cent of the total first-choice vote.

Although Dewar could not immediately be reached for comment, his former deputy Angus told reporters he conducted himself well in the race.

"We ran a great ground game. . . Paul did a great show yesterday," Angus said. "I think Paul had what it took to be Prime Minister but I don't second guess the delegates. He made the right choice."

Dewar will not be endorsing any other candidate for the leadership, instead advising his supporters to "make their own decision," according to Dewar's spokesperson, Kiavash Najafi.

MP Niki Ashton (Churchill) was forced out of the race after placing last out of the seven leadership candidates.

The first ballot uses a preferential balloting system, where party members ranked their choice for leader in order, from seventh to first.

Mulcair increased his share of the leadership vote to more than 38 per cent after the second round of voting. Fellow candidates Brian Topp and Nathan Cullen trail him with 25 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. Fourth placed candidate Peggy Nash was forced out of the race, garnering 17 per cent of the vote.