With just over a month left in the race to replace Premier Andrew Furey, the incumbent is declining to endorse either candidate.

Cabinet colleagues John Hogan and John Abbott are the only two people vying for the job.

Earlier this week fellow cabinet minister Fred Hutton threw his support behind Hogan.

Furey was asked if he has a favorite.

“No, both Johns are good friends and they’ve served the people of Newfoundland and Labrador well, and served in my cabinet very well, and I wish them both the best of luck,” he said.

The new leader and premier will be announced May 3rd.

Furey was also asked if it’ll be hard to stay out of the discourse after that date.

“Not at all,” he blurted without hesitation. “I’ve said from day one that my name may be on the ballot but the family serves. But I didn’t appreciate the weight distribution across the family until the weight was no longer there, and I’ve seen smiles and a lightness in my children that I haven’t appreciated in five or six years.”