Two immediate responses: 

1.  "bailing" works.  O'Leary has differentiated himself from"the pack" yet again.  As any savvy marketing pro  knows, it's all about "top of mind." It's achieved through differentiation. O'Leary is likely also very aware that differentiation comes with risk and cost, but at this stage, he's obviously willing take the risk and pay whatever price to be seen as...different; his own man. He's achieved one goal already: profile. This piece proves it. the other Candidates (what are their names, again?) look like petulant, defensive whiners.  As further proof of THAT statement...

2. Lisa Raitt called O’Leary a “chicken” for staying away from Tuesday’s event. “Format is irrelevant. Presence is mandatory. Suck it up and play by the rules,” she wrote on Twitter.  Ironically, she is the one that uses "Trump" language--and delivers the message the same way!  Yup...pretty Prime Ministerial, alright.  

The conductor sets the tempo and has 'em all dancing.