The Pollcast: Jason Kenney's quest to unite the Alberta right

The CBCPollcast, hosted by CBC poll analyst ric Grenier, explores the world of electoralpolitics,political polls and the trends they reveal.

Jason Kenneyleft federal politics earlier this month to mount a bid for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives.

But his plan to redraw the political landscape in Alberta doesn't end there. After winning the leadership, he wants to merge the PCs with Wildrose, another conservative opposition party, and take down Rachel Notley's New Democrats in 2019.

It's a tall order. Can he do it?

• Kenney bids adieu to Parliament Hill after 20 years
• Podcasts: Subscribe to the CBCPollcast

The leadership race officially begins on Saturday and will come to an end on March 18, 2017. It is an abnormally important vote for the leadership of a party occupying the third spot in the Alberta legislature. That is because Kenney proposes to blow the PC party up in order to merge it with Wildrose, giving the race existential tones for the PCs.

But how likely is Jason Kenney to win the PC leadership when the party's members have already voted against a merger? Will the leadership rules disadvantage the former federal Conservative cabinet minister? And do any of the other candidates in the running or soon to be in the race among them Donna Kennedy-Glans, Richard Starke orSandra Jansen have any hope against a Kenney juggernaut?

Joining podcast host ric Grenier to break down the leadership campaign is Janet Brown, an Alberta pollster, and Graham Thomson, columnist for the Edmonton Journal.

The CBC Election Pollcast25:31Alberta PC leadership race about to officially begin

Independent pollster Janet Brown and Graham Thomson from the Edmonton Journal join us to discuss the state of Alberta politics and whether Jason Kenney has a shot at becoming PC leader.

Listen to the full discussion above or subscribe to the CBCPollcast and listen to past episodes.

Follow ric Grenier, Graham Thomson,and Janet Brownon Twitter.