The federal Liberals will be showcasing their past and present at a Hamilton rally Sept. 13.

Former prime minister Jean Chretien will be accompanying Liberal leader Justin Trudeau during what the party is billing as a “Rally for Real Change” at the Sheraton Hotel starting at 1:30 p.m.

This will be Chretien’s first public appearance during the election, providing a boost to Trudeau’s hopes in Hamilton, Niagara and Halton regions. The 81-year-old Chretien is judicious in his public appearances, but party officials say the former prime minister’s high-profile attendance in Hamilton is being coordinated for strategic reasons.

Liberal officials are concerned the Hamilton Sheraton location may not be large enough to accommodate the many supporters they expect to attend the Sunday afternoon event.

Chretien, a renowned political strategist was prime minister from 1993 to 2003 winning three elections. He ran for the party leadership in 1984 after former prime minister Pierre Trudeau announced his retirement. Chretien lost to John Turner, become bitter enemies. In 1990, Turner resigned and Chretien ran and won the party leadership. In 2003, Chretien resigned as prime minister and Paul Martin took over.

The Liberals are currently seeing a boost in their support since Labour Day after a lackluster start to the 11-week campaign. Party officials say their numbers in Hamilton, Niagara and even in Halton are rising.

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, where former Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina, the Liberal candidate is challenging incumbent NDP MP Wayne Marston, and the new riding of Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas with Liberal candidate Filomena Tassi is competing against NDP candidate and public school board trustee Alex Johnstone, are considered winnable Liberal ridings, say party officials.

The Tory candidate in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas is Vincent Samuel, and in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, it is Diane Bubanko.

The Liberals are leading in Ontario with the Tories second and the NDP third. Nationally, the Tories are slipping, down to 26 per cent from 31 per cent a month ago, the NDP up 32 per cent from 30 per cent and the Liberals seeing their support edging upwards from 29 per cent to 31 per cent. The NDP is still projected to grab 124 seats in the Oct. 19 election, with the Liberals not far with 116 seats. The Conservatives are estimated to retain only 97 of their seats. A party needs 170 seats for a majority government.