Saskatchewan leader Wall rules out federal politics

By Rod Nickel (Reuters) - Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, one of Canada's most popular provincial leaders, ruled out ever taking a run at federal politics on Friday, with the country on the verge of a national election campaign. Wall, leader of the right-leaning Saskatchewan Party and the resource-rich province's premier since 2007, is often mentioned as a possible successor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper as leader of the federal Conservative Party. "I don't have any interest in the federal Conservative leadership. I just don't," Wall said in an interview. He said he plans to run for reelection in Saskatchewan next year, and said that whenever he is finished as premier, he won't be tempted by a move to Ottawa. "Whenever it is that this job is done, I'll be happy to have had the opportunity to do it, and won't be looking for any other political work." Wall said as premier he still has a platform to speak to national issues, such as the country's much-criticized Senate and energy pipelines. The veteran provincial politician developed a national profile in 2010, when he rallied opposition to BHP Billiton Ltd's attempt to take over Potash Corp of Saskatchewan, which helped persuade Ottawa to block the move. Harper is widely expected to launch Canada's election campaign as early as Sunday, with the vote on Oct. 19. (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson; and Peter Galloway)