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The NDP could wait no longer. Canada could wait no longer. A life-time in third-place was ending. Tom Mulcair, Leader of the Opposition, was going to win first-place for the NDP this time. It wasn't just hope. The polls were swinging to the NDP, they had the lead now. Stephen Harper and the Conservatives had fallen behind, and the Liberals under justin Trudeau were in third-place. The pieces were falling into place, and the New Democratic Party was going to win.

On August 2, Conservative Canadian PM Stephen Harper called an election for September 14.[1]The polls were close, and Harper hoped to reverse the NDP's lead in a month. But calling a longer election risked the anti-Harper vote rallying. Harper started behind, but he had a floor of 30% of the vote, so he could yet pull off a fourth victory. Harper vowed to make the election about the economy. But with the oil prices slumping the economy was falling into a recession. So, that was a fight Mulcair was glad to have too. Ultimately the eletion was about far more than the economy. It was about Harper and the direction of Canada. A defeat for Harper would mean the reversal of his conservative agenda. A defeat for the NDP or the Liberals would consign that party to third place. But Mulcair could agree with Harper on one front at least. This election was the most important one in years.
Mulcair had come this far. But his position was precarious. A bit of bad luck could send him back to third-place. And some good luck could make him the first NDP Prime Minister. A poll days before the election was called showed the NDP at 33.7%, the Conservatives at 29.3% and the Liberals at 25.8%. Now to make those poll numbers a reality. The Orange Wave was building.

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[1]This is the PoD. Hope you enjoy this collaborative Tl between Sanderford and I, thank you Sanderford for making the offer of making this TL.
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