NDP leader Jack Layton rallied the NDP troops during a stop in Hamilton at Hamilton East-Stoney Creek NDP MP Wayne Marston’s campaign office Sunday evening, leaving in his wake a renewed sense of urgency to keep Hamilton’s three NDP MPs in Ottawa.

“It looks very good,” said Hamilton Mountain NDP MP Chris Charlton. “Jack’s 10-city stop has left people energized and excited.”

Ms. Charlton is in a tough three-way battle with Liberal candidate Tyler Banham and Conservative candidate Terry Anderson.

Ms. Charlton had a few days earlier sent out an e-mail saying she would be holding her election victory party at Squires Pub on the mountain.

Mr. Marston said Mr. Layton’s purpose for stumping in Hamilton was to make sure the people understood how much the Conservatives have ignored the losses in manufacturing jobs in the city. Stopping in his riding and at his campaign office was just convenient.

But he acknowledged a party leader making a high profile appearance in a riding during the homestretch of an election means the contest remains in play.

“He has given us a boost,” said Mr. Marston. “When Jack wants to come to your area, you don’t say no.”

Mr. Marston is in a tight horse race with Liberal candidate Larry Di Ianni. A day earlier, Mr. Di Ianni said internal Liberal polling had him winning the riding.

A day earlier Mr. Di Ianni received a boost to his campaign when former Hamilton East Liberal cabinet minister Sheila Copps announced her support for the former mayor.

“The NDP is going down and the Liberals are going up,” said Mr. Copps during a Liberal rally at the city’s waterfront.

A few weeks ago Liberal leader Stephane Dion appeared in Mr. Di Ianni’s riding in Stoney Creek.

Mr. Marston remains confident he’s out in front and will be declared the winner on election day.

“I feel we are comfortably ahead,” he said. “But we are not taking anything for granted. We are doing the work that is needed to be done. We will just wait to see what the people will say about who wins.”

Over 200 people cheered and applauded Mr. Layton’s second visit to the city during the election. Mr. Layton made a brief stop in the Hamilton Mountain riding earlier in the campaign.

Also urging the crowd on was NDP candidates David Heatley (Niagara West-Glanbrook), Gordon Guyatt (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale), and incumbent NDP MP David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre).

Mr. Layton began the day in Windsor and made stops in St. Thomas, Welland, Guelph and Hamilton on his way to Toronto to pummel Prime Minister Stephen Harper for ignoring the plight of people who have lost their jobs. All of the cities have endured significant manufacturing job losses recently.

During his 15 minute speech, Mr. Layton accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of not caring about the 400,000 manufacturing jobs that have disappeared across Canada.

“Stephen Harper just doesn’t get it when it comes to our economy and how hard it is hitting working families,” said Mr. Layton.

“Stephen Harper is out of touch with working families.”

Mr. Layton also targeted Liberal leader Stephane Dion for propping up the Conservatives over the last two and a half years and failing to oppose the governments destructive policies. He also criticized the Liberal’s carbon tax for not properly attacking polluters.

“We will keep the jobs here and not send them away,” said Mr. Layton.

“We can bring hope and change for working families.”

He urged NDP volunteers to reach out to all people during the last hours of the campaign, especially those interested in voting for the Green party and convince them they can “change history” if they only voted for the NDP.

Recent polls indicate the Conservatives could be moving towards a majority government when it looked like Mr. Harper was headed for a minority result.

The Conservatives have about 35 per cent of the vote, while the Liberals sit with 25 per cent, the NDP 18 and the Green party 11 per cent.