Nathan Cullen Riding: Skeena-Bulkley Valley Caucus role: House leader First elected: 2004 Born: July 13, 1972 Toronto Profession/occupation before politics: human resources consultant Potential strengths as B.C. NDP leader: Young outsider, proven winner in rural B.C., personable and media-savvy, innovative, no baggage from bitter internal NDP feuds, centrist, network from 2011-12 leadership campaign. Weaknesses: Few links with powerful Indo-Canadian and labour constituencies in party, seen as “green” when some party members want a pro-job “hard hat.” View of caucus colleague and former Simon Fraser University political scientist Kennedy Stewart: “If Nathan decides to run, it would be a huge loss to us at the federal level, as he is one of our most talented MPs. However, I think he would take the provincial leadership race to a different level, bringing much-needed excitement and energy to a group of people who have not had much to cheer about over the past few months. “He is charismatic and young, but also very experienced. He has joined with powerful First Nations and environmental leaders to lead the charge against the Northern Gateway pipeline and finished a strong third in our very competitive national leadership race. To me this means he has the potential to grow the party beyond our 40 per cent. (But), at this point, Nathan would be considered an outsider when compared to other potential leadership hopefuls such as Mike Farnworth and John Horgan. So he’ll need to work very hard to convince party members that he is the person for this job. He’ll have to show a mastery of provincial issues and a unique vision for B.C. However, the same holds true for other MPs who might be considering a leadership run such as Jinny Sims, Peter Julian, or Fin Donnelly.” Photograph by: Adrian Wyld , THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The B.C. NDP, shell-shocked by the May election debacle and leader Adrian Dix’s intention to resign got a welcome dose of enthusiasm Tuesday when four federal MPs from B.C. said they’ll consider bids to lead the provincial party.

They include Nathan Cullen, the federal NDP House leader who ran a surprising third in the 2012 federal NDP leadership vote won by Tom Mulcair, and Jinny Sims, the firebrand former B.C. Teachers’ Federation leader.

Peter Julian and Fin Donnelly have also expressed interest in a job that will involve the headache of rebuilding the B.C. NDP for the 2017 election.

“It’s surprising,” said Norman Ruff, a political observer and University of Victoria professor emeritus. Ruff said the B.C. NDP is in “complete disarray” and isn’t ready for a leadership battle as it deals with the “post-traumatic” impact of a stunning campaign collapse in May.

Kennedy Stewart, a federal NDP MP and former Simon Fraser University political scientist, said all four of his caucus colleagues have strengths.

But to be successful, he said, the winner would have to sell a convincing vision to a provincial party that might be suspicious of a solution from Ottawa.

“The challenge for a federal MP is, ‘What’s your unique vision for the provincial party?’” Stewart said.

Ruff said the charismatic Cullen would have plenty to offer.

“His main advantage among party activists and public alike is his lack of any kind of baggage from B.C. politics of the 1990s.”

Sims has a considerable advantage in her links to the Indo-Canadian community and the labour movement, both crucial NDP constituencies. But Ruff said the former BCTF leader would be a “red flag” for Clark’s Liberals.

“The demonization of Dix could seem like kindergarten play compared to what would be hurled at Sims,” Ruff said. He said the NDP under her leadership could be hurt because critics of unionized teachers have “falsely” labelled them out for themselves rather than students.

“She has a fiery style but she would put Liberals in a frenzy. And she would rise to the bait.”

Former federal MP Ian Waddell, who served in the provincial NDP cabinet in the 1990s, said Ottawa-based politicians don’t always have an easy transition to Victoria.

Waddell said MLAs on both sides of the B.C. legislature would direct “he’s too Ottawa” comments his way: “It’s an uphill fight for an Ottawa person, but may be different this time as the party searches for new blood.”

Cullen told The Sun he’s talked about the leadership with Mulcair and B.C. party members who are urging him to consider a bid to replace Dix.

“I’m taking the time to seriously consider this with friends and family,” he said.

The list of potential contenders includes provincial MLAs John Horgan and Mike Farnworth, who ran unsuccessfully against Dix in 2011.

Sims, 61, wouldn’t discuss her candidacy beyond confirming her interest.

“I’ve been approached by a lot of people and I’m giving it serious consideration,” said Sims, who served as BCTF leader when Clark was premier Gordon Campbell’s education minister.