OTTAWA—The Conservative leadership contest is quickly becoming a question of who actually wants the job.

Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre shocked Conservative circles and political observers Thursday by announcing he’s abandoning his campaign for the leadership.

Poilievre had been organizing his bid for weeks, and had attracted party heavyweights John Baird and Jenni Byrne to his banner. He was expected to officially announce his candidacy in Ottawa on Sunday.

But in a surprise statement posted to social media Thursday afternoon, Poilievre said his heart wasn’t in the race.

“Over the last several weeks, I have been building a team and support for a possible run for the Conservative leadership …. I knew it would be hard on my family life to do this. But I did not realize how hard,” wrote Poilievre, who has a young child.

“As such, my heart is not fully engaged in this leadership race. Without being all in, I cannot be in at all.”

Poilievre’s departure is the third high-profile exit from the Conservative leadership field this week.

On Tuesday, former Quebec Premier Jean Charest told Radio Canada he would not seek the party’s top job. Hot on Charest’s heels was Rona Ambrose, the party’s former interim leader, who announced Wednesday she would focus on her post-politics life in Alberta.

As late as Thursday morning reporters were expecting Poilievre to announce his candidacy on Sunday in Ottawa. One campaign official appeared caught off guard Wednesday afternoon when the Star called to confirm reports Poilievre was out.

Speaking shortly after the news broke to CTV’s Power Play, Byrne said Poilievre has a young family and the veteran politician did not anticipate he could provide the level of commitment required to win the leadership.

“The last few weeks were more tough than what was anticipated. This is a big commitment,” Byrne said.

“It’s not just a leadership race, it could be two to three years in opposition as well.”

With Poilievre’s departure from the field, Peter MacKay and Erin O’Toole are the only confirmed or likely candidates with strong name recognition among the Conservative grassroots, a crucial advantage in the short leadership race.

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MacKay is expected to announce his bid in his native Nova Scotia on Saturday. While no date has been set for O’Toole’s entrance into the race, the Durham MP is expected to make his official announcement in short order, and his path to victory may look clearer with Poilievre gone from the race.

Those vying for the leadership will be required to raise a $300,000-deposit and have at least 3,000 signatures of support from 30 different ridings spread across seven provinces or territories. But the first real milestone will be Feb. 27, when candidates are required to submit their first 1,000 signatures and a $25,000-initial-deposit.

Conservative Party faithful will select their next leader on June 27 at a convention in Toronto.

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