We're with Layton

He started his stump speeches with the line “I’m Jack Layton and I’m running to be Prime Minister.” Tonight, he began with: “My name is Jack Layton and to put ordinary familes first, I ran for Prime Minister.”

Glenn Thibeault in Sudbury (defeats a Liberal, Diane Marleau).

“We did it! Ya! We did it!” said Olivia Chow in her acceptance speech here tonight. “We stand up for the values and principles that put people first and I guarantee you we will never back down.”

The crew from Kitchen Air, Jack Layton’s campaign plane, is here to show their support (that’s Laura and George in the photo). So are the bus drivers. Now that’s what I call service.

A few new faces from Northern Ontario to add to the NDP caucus: Carol Hughes, Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing (defeats Liberal Brent St. Denis) and Bruce Hyer, Thunder Bay-Superior North (defeats Conservative Joe Comuzzi.

The mood here is relatively subdued, even though the NDP is having a strong showing so far. Might have something to do with the fact that domestic bear is $5.25. The cheese puffs, though, are flowing.

Nothing says election night rally like cheese puffs and nuts n’ bolts. For a moment there, I thought maybe this was the Marijuana Party HQ.

Layton just arrived, serenaded by a sax player (like I said, the NDP knows how to party) as he made his way through a pack of photographers. “We’re feeling good so far,” he said, to no one in particular.

NDPers are hoping for big things tonight. “Our hopes know no bounds,” says party spokesman Brad Lavigne, milling around the press room at NDP HQ. The party has reason to feel good. Here are the numbers the NDP was polling at the beginning of the campaign compared to last weekend:

And the Guvernment is no Telus Convention Centre. Pictured, the media filing room.

Tonight, the NDP HQ is at the Guvernment, a rock concert venue in Toronto. A fitting spot for the NDP and leader Jack Layton, who’s arrived at recent campaign stops to blaring tunes like “We’re not gonna take it” by Twisted Sister, and his unofficial rally song, “We’re gonna win” by Bryan Adams (featuring rousing lyrics like: “Winnin’ really is the only thing/ Get out of the way were comin’ in”). The NDP knows how to party (and by the looks of things here, it plans to do that tonight).