Can Wednesday’s ‘shiddle diddle’ incident propel Justin Trudeau’s political career?

Despite claims he doesn't want the job, Justin Trudeau is most Canadians' top choice to be the next leader of the federal Liberals.

An Angus Reid poll conducted after the May 2 election found that across the country, almost half of the respondents (48 per cent) believe Trudeau would be a good choice to lead the Grits.

Judging by the mostly forgiving responses to the newly coined 'shiddle diddle' incident in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Trudeau's popularity has just risen.

As reported in the Toronto Star, Trudeau lost his cool when Conservative environment minister Peter Kent scolded an NDP critic for failing to attend a climate change conference in South Africa.

Outraged because Kent had refused to allow Opposition critics to travel as part of Canada's delegation, Trudeau leaned forward and hollered across the aisle: "Oh, you piece of sh--!"

Trudeau did apologize and said he behaved in an "unparliamentary manner."

For the most part, however, the incident casts Trudeau in a positive light.

The 39 year old MP came across as someone who was standing up for the little guy.

He showed his 'human side.'

University of Ottawa political science expert Michael Behiels told the National Post there is no doubt the Conservatives are the ones responsible for the explosions of anger in the House of Commons.

"I think the opposition has its back against the wall and doesn't know what to do," he said. "Not a single opposition amendment has been accepted. Everything they try to do is basically laughed at, dismissed. So the opposition MPs have had it, and it's just pouring out."

At Ipolitics.ca, respected author and journalist Lawrence Martin suggests Trudeau's outburst raises his profile and is part of a recent rebellious pattern.

"(Trudeau) wears blue jeans to the chamber, the only MP to do so. His old man, Pierre, we recall, brought highly favourable publicity upon himself when he showed up back in the 1960s wearing sandals and an ascot. Now there is Justin's father-like cursing," he wrote referring to Pierre Elliot Trudeau who was caught mouthing the words "f-- off" in the Commons in 1971.

"For someone uninterested (in running for the leadership), he has been showing a distinctly high profile. And, since the leadership convention isn't until 2013, there is lots of time to change his mind.

"And should he do it, his rude word grouping won't hurt him. His father was criticized for being an elitist. Justin's phraseology will help keep him out of that class."