Columnists have to be opinionated - it goes with the trade and the territory.

But I applaud Martin's judgement and restrain in not picking a winner out of 14 candidates a month before the vote which further complicates things with a ranked ballot system.

I do agree O'Leary would be a problematic choice for the CPC and the more conventional choice would - and I predict will - come from the ranks of those who are conservatives on economic and fiscal issues and moderates or centrists on social issues.

So the best options are Raitt, Scheer, O'Toole and Chong.  They are in the moderate, modern Tory tradition with appealing back stories that make them the anti-Trudeau in terms of silver spoons and unearned laurels and they leave Little Potato "in the dust" in RELEVANT education, experience, accomplishments and executive skills.

The wildcard will not be O'Leary, I think, but Bernier,  2nd only to Raitt in party likability.

So Max may win in May but I can't see him winning in 2019.