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Calgary MP Jason Kenney has long been thought to be the heir presumptive of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper; but lately, all he seems to be passionate about is Alberta politics.

Kenney, who spoke with the Post on Monday morning at a downtown Starbucks not far from his constituency, hasn’t ruled out a run for federal leadership, of course.

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“I felt it would be imprudent to be drawn into a 12 to 18 month federal leadership campaign. I think that’s counter-productive. I want to avoid this precedent of creating a U.S.-style primary calendar that goes on,” he said. “I’ve been in no particular rush to make a decision for that reason.”

There’s been no shortage of speculation about Kenney’s lack of haste; that perhaps he’s too closely tied to the Harper era, too socially conservative, or too Calgarian to have a serious shot at leadership.

Kenney dismisses these as the sorts of concerns that people who aren’t in the Conservative Party obsess about.