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Photo by Paula Keech for the National Post

“It would do her a great disservice for the party or anyone to be taking credit for her decision to run,” Rempel said in an interview with the Post. “And her stepping up, and her reaching out, and her getting engaged, and her doing the heavy lifting. This has been her and that is just really exciting…. She reminds me of me in some ways.”

Rempel said she’s trying to take several young women, including Rattée, under her wing as they set up their campaigns for October. They include Ramona Singh, in swingable riding Brampton East, and Cyara Bird in Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, who at 22 participated in the Daughters of the Vote event on Parliament Hill earlier this year. There’s also Raquel Dancho in Kildonan—St. Paul, who previously worked for the Manitoba government, and Egyptian immigrant Miriam Ishak in Pierrefonds—Dollard. “I’m really excited that we’re seeing more women run for office writ large across the board in Canada,” Rempel said. None of them are “in it to be quiet,” she added.

Of course, it is one thing for potential voters to see themselves reflected in the faces of election candidates and feel welcomed by local representatives of the party, many of whom, like Lester, are running in ridings that may be difficult for the Tories to actually win. It is another for Conservatives to present a platform appealing enough to younger demographics that the “big tent” legitimately expands.

Pundits will point out that Trudeau’s first election after an initial majority mandate has always been his to lose, whether or not Scheer is particularly charismatic, whether or not his policies are broadly appealing and whether or not his candidates are intriguing characters. But some in the party claim a new feeling of momentum — bolstered not only by recent bumps in polling and fundraising, but also by the fresh faces who could potentially make the Conservative Party look like it’s hip with the kids.

“I’ve been part of this party for a very long period of time,” Rempel said. “This is the most excited I’ve been, and it’s in large part because of people like Claire.”

• Email: mdsmith@postmedia.com | Twitter: mariedanielles