Legwork is key to Lagacé Dowson campaign

“We would have won,” said Dowson, speculating on the outcome of the Sept. 8 by-election that was postponed to Oct. 14 with the call of a general election. “We were doing the short version, the by-election version, and now we’re doing the longer version.”

However, the broadcaster and journalist is unfazed, setting her sights on Oct. 14 by continuing to build interest and support for her party the old-fashioned way. “We are just carrying on the same sort of trajectory, building the campaign and building party contacts on the ground,” she said. “It’s a great advantage for us because it means we just have that much more time to reach out to people.”

Dowson wasted little time in spreading her message by speaking to a crowd in Ville-Marie last week to address the city’s “shocking” homelessness problem. She cited that a national housing policy is needed to get people off the streets — including in her own riding, which is tackling unemployment and homelessness. “Even people who seem to be fairly (financially stable) may be existing on limited incomes,” she said, adding that shrinking the gap between the rich and poor will not only reduce homelessness, but also crime, echoing the message of party leader Jack Layton.

Layton, whom she describes as “an NDG kid,” was in town last week on a campaign stop, leaving her impressed with his buoyant and optimistic, yet hard-working and disciplined personality. “I think he’s really thrilled to see this, that the party is very present ... and is planning a good campaign,” she said. “We’re going to work on the ground — that’s what built the NDP and that’s what continues to be the best strategy of reaching out to people.”