Robert Libman wants to run for Tories in Liberal bastion

A potentially interesting political battle is developing in the federal riding of Mount Royal, which includes the city of Cote St. Luc, the Town of Mount Royal and part of Cote des Neiges.

Robert Libman, who came to prominence with the Equality Party 25 years ago, is seeking the Conservative nomination in the Liberal stronghold.

Libman ran on an Anglophone rights platform back in 1989 and pulled off a political upset in the provincial elections that year.

He says residents have been encouraging him to run for the Conservatives.

“A lot of people have been impressed with Stephen Harper’s stance on international affairs and his stewardship of the economy and I think he deserves support from our community,” Libman said.

Most political observers say he's in for an uphill battle -- the Liberals have held the riding continually since 1940, Pierre Trudeau was the MP there for almost 20 years, and a Quebec politician once said a mailbox could get elected for the Liberals here simply because it's red.

But Libman believes he can win the riding.

That’s because Mount Royal has the second largest Jewish population of any federal riding in Canada and many of those voters are impressed with the harper government's pro-Israel stance.

He also says his past will come in handy for him.

“Mount Royal is a very mixed community it has a loyal of minority communities. My career was propelled by minority rights and I think it's important that it's important that minority rights and Anglophones have a voice in Ottawa,” he said.

Sebastien Dallaire of Leger Marketing says while Libman is a strong candidate, the Liberals will work hard to keep the riding red.

“Not only has it been Liberal for 75 years, but we have to remember whose father was also in this riding, so there's also a personal issue for (Liberal Leader) Justin Trudeau,” he said.

Right now, Cote St. Luc Mayor Anthony Housefather and P.R. executive Jonathan Goldbloom are both seeking the Liberal nod in the riding.

Although sources confirmed to CTV the Liberals would rather bring in a star candidate, regardless who the Liberals go with, it won't be easy to beat Trudeau and his team.

But Libman still feels he has a good shot to end 75 years of Liberal reign in Mount Royal.

“I really think I can make it happen,” he said.