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With sagging support and the NDP breathing down his neck, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion launched a blistering attack on his opponents Sunday, saying the Conservatives can't be trusted to run the country and that the NDP doesn't understand the economy.

The Liberal Leader tried to beat back damage inflicted on his party by the NDP, warning that Leader Jack Layton's economic platform would destroy the Canadian economy.

“Mr. Layton has an old-fashioned socialist mentality that will not work in this century,” he said.

Mr. Dion admitted that the NDP does pose a threat to his party's standing, but said Mr. Layton doesn't stand a chance of forming the next government and that Canadians who want a change should vote for the Liberals.

“They [the NDP] may take some votes,” Mr. Dion said. “Everyone wants to see progressive government. You need to pool your vote for the only progressive party that may win this election.”

Mr. Dion made the accusations at a packed rally of about 200 supporters in Toronto Sunday morning, surrounded by Liberal heavyweights, including Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae, Ruby Dhalla, Carolyn Bennett, and Martha Hall Findlay.

“In this election the choice is very clear,” Mr. Dion said. “It's a fight and we'll win it.”

Mr. Dion also assaulted the Conservative's record on gender equality, saying Leader Stephen Harper has no regard for the rights of women. The Liberal Leader said female voters will be the deciding factor in the election and his party would create numerous new programs to help women and their families.

For instance, he promoted his pledge to introduce universal child care across Canada, introduce new flexibility to parental leave, help reduce childhood poverty as well as create a new gender equality commissioner.

Recent polls have predicted major Liberal losses in close ridings across the country and significant gains for the NDP. Despite this, Mr. Dion insisted his party can – and will – win this campaign if it can appeal to female voters.

“It depends on the poll you look at,” he told reporters.

Mr. Dion, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, said the best birthday gift would be to win the most seats in the House of Commons.

At the rally, Mr. Dion repeatedly labelled Mr. Layton as a man who would pay for his campaign promises with “Monopoly money.” He insisted the campaign is only a two-way race and dismissed Jack Layton's assertion that he could become the next Prime Minister.

“There is only two choices for government, whether a very Conservative government with a laissez-faire no-care approach, [or] whether a Liberal government that will be progressive for all Canadians. This is the choice,” Mr. Dion said.

Despite the charged atmosphere of Sunday's rally, supporters took enough time to sing Happy Birthday and present a birthday cake to Mr. Dion.

Later in Ottawa, Mr. Dion said he wants Canadians to stop listening to Mr. Harper's propaganda and realize only the Liberals are prepared to handle the environmental and economic crises that threaten the country.

“I think we are facing propaganda,” Mr. Dion said during anhour-long appearance on CBC Radio's Cross Country Check-up.”Never a man has been more targeted than me.”

The challenge for the rest of the campaign will be selling his progressive policies, such as the Green Shift plan, to Canadians who have been inundated with misinformation from the Tories, Mr, Dion said.

“The Liberal Green Shift plan has been described the same way by Mr. Harper – through propaganda,” Mr. Dion said. “I have an opportunity to say to Canadians who I am, why I love my country, why I think I would be a good Prime Minister for yourself and your children, and why we have the good policies to tackle the challenges of the century.”