He's a scary right-wing extremist! He's on the far right of the American far right! He's a pro-life religious zealot!

He's the Liberal frontrunner. UPDATE: Or maybe not...

Friends and allies of Frank McKenna say it's no sure bet that he will seek the leadership of the federal Liberal party. McKenna, the 58-year-old former New Brunswick premier, turned businessman, turned diplomat, announced this week that he is resigning as Canada's ambassador to the United States, triggering intense speculation that he will contest the race to replace Paul Martin as Liberal leader. But his confidants in New Brunswick, where he was premier from 1987 until 1997, say McKenna is not motivated by the same ambition that was evident in the early days of his political career. They say he is weighing questions about whether he could not only win a leadership race, but gain the trust of the country.

And, of course, spending more time with his family. IN OTHER LIBERAL POWER STRUGGLE NEWS: As the speculative fever rises -- Gerard Kenney's candidacy has been confirmed and debunked six times in the last 24 hours -- TDHStrategies comments:

Does anyone in the Liberal party understand anything else but leadership contests anymore? Is that the only thing that this once great institution has come to represent - the struggle for power?