Liberal MP Ralph Goodale speaks to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto on May 20, 2009.Kevin Van Paassen
Deputy Liberal leader Ralph Goodale is asking supporters for money to beat the Conservatives and NDP in Monday's federal by-elections.
And the fact that Mr. Goodale, the veteran Saskatchewan MP, has signed the fundraising note rather than Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is provoking some cynical chatter among Tories.
"Notice who signed this letter?" a Conservatve official asked, suggesting Mr. Ignatieff did not sign it because he is not popular within the party. The official pointed to a recent Harris-Decima poll that showed 59 per cent of Liberals wanted to see Mr. Ignatieff replaced.
"Friend," the e-mail from Mr. Goodale begins. "It's coming down to the wire for our Liberal candidates Tony Genco, Kevin Lamoureux and Christopher Scott Sarna. And your help could make the difference."
Three by-elections are fast approaching: two in Manitoba and one in a suburban Toronto riding. The Liberals are competitive in two: Winnipeg North and Vaughan, where the Conservatives are running star candidate Julian Fantino, the former Toronto Police chief and OPP commissioner.
Vaughan has been held by the Liberals for 22 years but next week's race could be difficult for the Grits, given Mr. Fantino's name recognition and law-and-order credentials. In Winnipeg North, the NDP are competing with the Liberals - but the Tories haven't given up there either, even though the seat has been held by New Democrats for a long time.
"Will you chip in a few dollars, or more if you can afford it, now, when they need it most? With your help, we'll use the next seven days to mobilize one last campaign blitz," Mr. Goodale writes. "Over the next seven days - let's send Stephen Harper a message he can't ignore."
The Liberals are not nearly as effective at raising funds as the governing Tories. They recently they hired a team of professional fundraisers to help them out.
As for Mr. Goodale's signature - his first name only, "Ralph" - a senior Ignatieff official dismisses the Tory spin that Mr. Ignatieff will turn off potential donors as "total nonsense."
"Unlike the Conservatives and their candidates who prefer to hide from any public forums and debates, Mr. Goodale, Mr. Ignatieff, and all of our caucus are working hard to encourage support for our by-election candidates in every way we can over these last few days."
The Liberals have accused the Conservatives of keeping their candidates out of the public eye - and away from public debates - during the campaign.
A spokesman for Mr. Goodale, meanwhile, says that success in fundraising and the upcoming by-elections takes "teamwork."
"As a member of the team, and deputy leader, Ralph was happy to sign the letter on behalf of his leader and his party," the spokesman said. "I take it Stephen Harper signs ALL of the Tories' fundraising letters? He should. Because he signs off on everything else."