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Even if this “time is right” dynamic draws from a smaller voter pool than Trudeau’s, it places a new kind of pressure on the prime minister. The NDP tried tacking to the centre under Mulcair and got outflanked by Trudeau. They won’t make the same mistake again.

The NDP as hard-headed pragmatists worked when evil Stephen Harper was in charge and the Liberals were a bag of toys. Now that the Tories are out and Justin Trudeau is hogging the left rail of politics, the Dippers have no choice but to pass him on the outside.

Tacking to the far left has its obvious dangers, but they’re mitigated when presented by a visible minority who ticks so many other boxes for progressives.

Photo by Justin Tang / The Canadian Press

Given the brainpower that’s been invested in how to attack Trudeau since his victory in the Liberal leadership race in 2013 — to no discernable effect — it will be interesting to see how the Grits take on Singh (should he win).

The Liberals can’t whisper darkly about his Sikhness, as the Bloc Quebecois are already (sadly) doing. They can’t fault his spending, given they are already spending like the NDP. Singh might not be ready for prime time, but wasn’t that what they said about Trudeau, back in the day?

Even if they do find a few policy differences worth highlighting, they’ll be fighting on terrain that doesn’t play to Trudeau’s strengths.

Meanwhile, Singh represents an interesting opportunity for Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. More competition on the left should, in theory, open up the centre lane. It screams for a relentless focus on pocketbook issues done in a measured, non-hysterical way. You know, the stuff the Tories used to be good at and got them elected.

But the Tories are the undercard. The focus will be on the new boy and the current champion of Canadian politics.

No matter how much Trudeau wants to spend, Singh will spend more. No matter how much virtue Trudeau wants to signal, Singh will signal harder. No matter how inclusive Trudeau wants to be, Singh already is that inclusion.

It will be a good tilt. The people in the bar will be excited.

Andrew MacDougall is a London-based communications consultant and the ex-director of communications to former prime minister Stephen Harper.