I hope Brian Topp doesn't run. For one, he will lose. Second, most Canadians will see him as a backroom hack that through a combination of connections and arrogance thought he deserved to have leader of the opposition and prime minister in waiting handed to him on a silver platter (harsh yes, but true). Third, he has never served in elected office and there is a big difference between when you expose yourself to that kind of public accountability and when you pull levers in the back room. Fourth, he doesn't have what it takes: he doesn't have the charisma, stage presence, discretion (read his political columns or comments on babble), tact (see his "high-profile" "NDP insiders"[CBC's words, not mine] leaking his candidacy during the week of mourning for Layton when NDPers were either asked or volunteered to hold their tongues), or street cred to win over the party's base. Royalty be damned.
If the point of Topp running is to take out Mulcair, it will probably succeed; but if it is for Topp to win, then he will fail. In a race that pits Topp against Mulcair with a very nasty undercurrent, the membership will turn left and seek someone out like Julian (or Nash), as a less polarising figure. Julian and Nash are already a big threat to anyone running because the former truly understands the culture of the base and speaks its left-wing language, and Nash is a woman and NDPers will always root for them until gender equity is actually realised in Canadian politics.
To be blunt, the party insiders and royalty are deluding themselves a-la-Peter-Tabuns if they think they can push Topp through. Let Topp run for the nomination in Toronto Danforth and win it fair and square if he wishes, but the leadership is beyond his reach.
While I have concerns about the idea of someone taking over the leadership who has never run for public office before I find the hostility to Brian Topp puzzling.
He may not be the right candidate, but he's certainly done a lot for the party. He's been part of the 'establishment' for sure, but it's an establishment with a remarkable track record. Not just of success, but of hard work and tireless efforts.
I may not vote for the guy, but I think he's earned serious, respectful consideration.