With the announcement of PC Leader Hugh McFadyen planning to leave his post as head of the Opposition at the end of July, all eyes are on former Portage -Lisgar MP Brian Pallister as a potential candidate to replace McFadyen.

July 28 is the cut-off date for any interested candidates to register, and to date Pallister is the only person seeking the nomination.

"We've been doing pretty well," said Pallister Friday of his campaign progress. "We've been making a real effort to get the membership books back in. We got quite a few of those out -- the next (to do) is to get them back in and forwarded to the head office."

He wasn't able to say exactly how many members he has, since the numbers are still being tabulated.

Pallister added in July many people are away on holidays with their families and it is more difficult to get much work done, however he made some headway back in June by touring in the province and meeting with various community group trying to build the membership base for the PC Party.

"Now we just have to see how it goes in the next couple of weeks, to see if someone else enters the race or not," Pallister added.

"I am feeling confident that the odds are less of someone else entering the race, but I take nothing for granted. That is why I am continuing to register people right until the deadline."

See more in Portage Daily Graphic.

angela.brown@sunmedia.ca