If toeing the party line was a competitive sport, South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale federal Liberal hopeful Jim McMurtry appears to be in training to become an Olympic champion. In a telephone interview, the former New Democrat candidate revealed when he's "out on the hustings, I'm not representing Jim McMurtry. I'm representing my riding association." An example: during his pre-acclamation interview with association executives, the candidate told us he was asked how he felt about the Gomery Commission. "And I said, 'Well, I'd like to sit down and hear what you people think about Gomery. But I can tell you right now how I feel. I think it was wrong." But, while campaigning, he said "my view on Gomery would be - and I'm just going to page 26 (of the campaign briefing book) - based on what is said there, that the party has accepted responsibility all the way."

And what's your opinion on campaign finance reform, we inquired? After all, as a New Democrat, Mr. McMurtry slammed the law limiting union donations to $1,000 - saying it was leaving party hopefuls on the hook for campaign expenses. In fact, that's the reason he gave for dropping out of the election in 2004 - about a week after being acclaimed as the left-wing party's candidate in Surrey North.

"I don't know what I would say. If you gave me another week on this. Right now I'm just running around. This afternoon I have to get photos in and we're doing a doorknocker and all that kind of stuff. But I don't believe I'm going into this election representing Jim McMurtry," responded the candidate.

Personally, he said there should be limits on donations: "I don't think your average Canadian likes the idea that certain people can buy inordinate influence in the political process. But where does one draw the line? Well, these are complicated questions. And I don't know if I have ever really thought about it. Having not read Bill C-24, I just knew how people were telling me it was affecting me" - specifically, the local New Democrats who asked him to open a $5,000 personal line of credit because they couldn't get enough campaign financing from the labour movement.

Then, turning his attention back to his briefing book, Mr. McMurtry added "I don't know the index here. I can't find (the Liberal policy) very quickly. It doesn't seem to be a talking point."

During the almost hour-long interview, the candidate also explained why he switched parties. When the New Democrats asked him to open a line of credit, the 46-year-old Mr. McMurtry said he gave his father, former Ontario Tory attorney general Roy McMurtry, a phone call. "And I was saying, 'Dad, you know, this is really very unattractive to me.' And he was very forthright in saying, 'You should have nothing to do with them whatsoever.' And I said, 'Dad, I don't want to let people down.' And he said, 'They've let you down. And it's not in your interest.' And ever since he's said to me...I really have to end up finding a way of getting with a more established party."

So it was a practical consideration, joining the Liberals? "It began that way. But the more I think about it - if you knew how I ran my own household, you know, I'm very responsible I think. I have almost no debt and no mortgage. So I'm kind of an odd bird. My wife and I - for the first six years of three children - we didn't have a car."

Mr. McMurtry then said he thinks that kind of fiscal restraint - which he says is shared by the Martin administration - is important for the country. "And I know that there's people in the Liberal party who see the world in the same way. So I think I have found a home." A version of this article will be published in tomorrow's edition of 24 hours.