Federal Liberals have their first declared leadership candidate, maybe

Shane Geschiere wants to be the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

The 32-year-old university student from Manitoba, who is also raising two young children, wants to run a campaign focused on post-secondary education and daycare funding.

There's one problem though — he doesn't have the $50,000 that might be required to register in the leadership race.

Geschiere is a self-described "middle-class" guy. He's not a household name by any definition; in fact, he's never run for office before.

But that's his whole 'schtick.'

"I am totally the complete opposite of most of the leaders that have ever led or want to lead a party," he told Yahoo! Canada News. "I haven't played the game of politics for 30 years."

"But [the Liberals] have had the same experienced politicians leading the party over and over again...and where has it gotten us?"

While Geschiere is raring to hit the hustings, he admits the Liberal party leadership registration fee — which in 2008 was $50,000 — might be an obstacle too big to overcome.

"I agree with the principle of the fee. You just don't want a 100 people showing up as a joke," he says. "But I think $50,000 is way too high. That's more than some people make in a year - obviously."

By comparison, the NDP registration fee for their current leadership race was only $15,000.

Candidates in the 2004 Conservative leadership race put down a $50,000 entry fee, as well as a $50,000 deposit which was returned, so long as they complied with campaign rules.

In an email exchange with Yahoo! on Tuesday, Liberal Party president Mike Crawley said there would be a leadership registration fee this time around, but the amount has not yet been determined.

So why is Geschiere running for the leadership instead of running as a MP?

"There was this line in the movie Iron Lady that really resonated with me," he said.

"It was [Thatcher's] campaign manager who said 'If you want to change this party lead it. If you want to change this country lead it.'"