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Just over a month ago, Patrick Brown was the leader of a Progressive Conservative party poised to regain power in Ontario after 15 years, yet a relatively little-known figure.

Name recognition is not an issue for him any more.

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Brown added another bombshell Monday to four dizzying weeks of upheaval for the Tories, unexpectedly pulling out of the leadership race launched when he quit the same job in January.

Brown had entered the contest barely a week ago, arguing his reputation had been cleared of the sexual-misconduct allegations that forced him to resign in the first place.

But in a statement issued late Monday, Brown said he was unable to continue, given the burden of refuting false and “slanderous” misconduct charges, and the toll that vying for the leadership has taken on those close to him.

A source in his campaign said he and his loved ones have faced a barrage of death threats and other harassment from those angry that he had joined the election.