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“Jean’s done a good job as leader of the Opposition, but there’s some hope someone else will come in the race,” Maggi said.

“Neither Kenney nor Jean seem to have really electrified people — maybe people are looking for someone newer or younger.”

Kenney is seen as the clear front-runner in the race to become the next leader of the PCs, which will be determined Saturday at a party convention.

Read our complete coverage for the latest on the PC leadership race.

Maggi said the difficult PC leadership campaign, in which Kenney pushed the unification agenda against some stiff opposition, appears to have damaged his brand somewhat.

“By all measures, it appears he’s going to win the leadership of the PCs overwhelmingly, but the campaign has been a very divisive and combative process,” he said.

“There were some controversies that surrounded his leadership bid that has put downward pressure on his personal brand.”

Meanwhile, Jean has seen his own approval rating grow since the Wildrose Party rebounded from the exodus of nearly all its MLAs in 2014, forming the official Opposition with an even larger bench.

A Mainstreet poll in February found Jean boasted a 64 per cent approval rating compared to Premier Rachel Notley’s 37 per cent, further strengthening his bid to lead a united right. Kenney, meanwhile, was viewed favourably by 41 per cent of those polled, with 32 per cent holding an unfavourable view of the would-be leader.

Mount Royal University political analyst David Taras said even if Kenney wins the PC leadership race, he will have a much harder task appealing to those outside the party’s orbit.