Liberals marshal forces for Hamilton's civil war - Globe and Mail

[Screaming Lord Byron]

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OTTAWA — Earlier this week, a troop of more than 60 Hamilton cabbies, armed with city maps, did practice runs of the routes they will take to pick up and deliver Sheila Copps's supporters to tomorrow's contentious nomination meeting in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

Her strategists were armed with watches, clocking the cabbies' progress as they wound through the streets of the new riding.

Tomorrow morning, Punjabi pop star Gulzar Lahoria, whom Ms. Copps describes as a cross between Bob Marley and Gordon Lightfoot, will be campaigning by her side.

The two will sing together, trying to lure voters from their homes to the polling booths.

A civil war among federal Liberals has been declared in Hamilton. Both Ms. Copps, a former senior minister for Jean Chrétien, and Transport Minister Tony Valeri are fighting for their political lives.

Mr. Valeri's campaign manager, Chris Phillips, said they don't need "Punjabi singers or a Croatian dance team" to entice people to vote for their candidate.