OTTAWA - Bob Rae has officially entered the race to replace Liberal Leader Stephane Dion.
The Toronto MP and former Ontario NDP premier filed his nomination papers with the party early Monday.
The move was meant to put to rest rumours that Rae was about to withdraw from the leadership.
An email message sent to Rae organizers by his campaign chief, Jonathan Goldbloom, says Rae resents the spin being circulated that he has thrown his support to his old friend Michael Ignatieff, the presumed frontrunner.
Rumours circulated over the weekend that Rae had agreed to let Ignatieff take over the leadership if the Liberals succeed in toppling the minority Conservatives and form a coalition government with the NDP.
Dion has been negotiating the deal but he is scheduled to resign once a successor is chosen May 2 at a convention in Vancouver.
