Paul Martin did a good job of leaning to far to the left into NDP territory. That and his unending campaign of going after his retired boss has driven a lot of people away from the Liberal fold.
The real dilemma for the Liberal party is that they have to reclaim parts of their identity while asking the electorate to forget the corruption and divisions within.
Tough job.
You either have to unite with a party of "New ideas" and change your brand a couple of times (which the Conservatives did) or completely fold and start again. (which seems to be their destiny.
The NDP simply has no future. Never did have.
As for Rodney... I don't think the folks in Cape Breton are likely to forget is shenanigans too soon. I was at the bash in Inverness when he won when he won his very first seat. (a little over 10 years ago). The hall was packed and I'll bet he knew more than half of us by name long before he took up politics.
The rest of Nova Scotia may be more forgiving but Capers are a little leery of what happens to folks when they head up to Hamiflax.