NDP 'oh so set to go'

For a party used to being in third place, Newfoundland and Labrador's NDP are not taking their ascent to second place in the polls lightly.

The New Democrats held their official campaign launch in St. John's on Friday night, with a party intended to rally workers as they spread out before the Oct. 11 election. The writ for the election will be issued on Monday.

Long-time organizer Nancy Riche said it feels as though they have been campaigning for quite some time.

"I think people are feeling good because a lot of work has been done already. So it's almost like mid-campaign and the volunteers are getting a break, but they are oh so set to go," Said Riche.

Leader Lorraine Michael drew cheers Friday night from supporters as she told them how public support has changed since the spring.

"It's been an astounding few months, folks," Michael said.

Provincial party president Dale Kirby said the campaign leading up to the provincial election on Oct. 11 will be the first of its kind for his party.

"We will have the best organized, the best funded campaign in the history of our party. There's no question about that," said Kirby.

Meanwhile, St. John's East MPJack Harris attributes some of the provincial party's popularity toa spin-off from May's federal election, whichswept the federal NDP to official Opposition status.

"I think that's a indicator that people are ready to accept the New Democratic Party as people with serious alternatives to the existing government, with something important to say," said Harris.

The NDP's Atlantic caucus met in St. John'sFriday, tied into the party's campaign launch.

"I can feel the energy and the momentum here in Newfoundland and Labrador and it's going to break on Oct. 11," said St. John's South-Mount Pearl MP Ryan Cleary.

"We're going to see a great big orange wave sweep right across this province."