While Alberta Premier Ralph Klein says he will step down in October 2007, some observers think that "King Ralph" needs to make a compelling case for his "long goodbye" -- otherwise, he might be leaving office sooner than he intends.

The Alberta Conservative Party's annual general meeting at month's end has a mandatory leadership review vote included in it.  Klein has previously said he'll step aside if the party's membership doesn't give him a strong vote of support.

"I won't deny there are some in the party who think (19 months) is too long," said Rod Love, a former Klein chief of staff, told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.

"We're about to find out how many there are with the vote on March 31."

Klein biographer Don Martin thinks the long winding down to retirement would not seem so long if the Alberta premier had an agenda for his final 19 months.

"The idea he wants to do something about clean-burning coal and the idea of turning Alberta into some sort of cancer research centre of excellence is admirable, but it doesn't take 19 months to throw a bunch of money and make those things happen," said Martin.

"He always talks about the burning in the belly.  I'm not sure whether he's going to have the burning in the belly in 19 months."

Klein was sworn in as Alberta's premier in 1992. Since then, he has led his party to four strong victories.

However, the Tories dropped 10 seats in the 2004 election and Klein had recently been under pressure to provide a firm departure date.

While Klein has traditionally received huge votes of confidence from his party in the past, some of speculated that a less-than-overwhelming majority might back him this time.

"I won't get into the prediction game," said Love.

"He indicated to the Alberta legislature press gallery earlier this week that he is somewhat nervous.  The fact of the matter is we're in uncharted territory here...the premier has the challenge to make a compelling case in his speech Friday as to what these 19 months will be all about.  I think he's up to that challenge."

Another former Klein chief of staff, Peter Elzinga, said he believed the party would continue to support the premier.

"I'm not quite sure what the fuss is about because if one examines what the premier indicated during the election campaign, when he was asked if he was going to fulfill his mandate he gave the commitment that he was going to fulfill his mandate if re-elected."

Some potential leadership hopefuls are waiting in the wings. They include former provincial treasurer Jim Dinning, seen by many as the front-runner in the yet-to-be declared leadership race. Another strong contender is veteran cabinet minister Ed Stelmach.

Reports also name hopefuls as Advanced Education Minister David Hancock, Transportation Minister Lyle Oberg, rookie legislature member Ted Morton and Mark Norris, a one-term cabinet minister from Edmonton.