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The NDP and Wildrose ended up neck-and-neck in the Alberta political fundraising race in 2016.

In fourth quarter fundraising numbers filed with Elections Alberta, the NDP was in the lead with $798,165, raising its total for the year to $1,985,272.

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The Wildrose meanwhile took in $511,667.85 in the last three months of 2016, putting its yearly total to $1,758,378.

While the NDP raised more as a party, when constituency associations are added in the Wildrose was in the lead with $2,069,958. The NDP raised no money through its constituency associations.

NDP provincial secretary Roari Richardson said the party’s happy with its totals after stepping up its fundraising game in the last half of the year.

“I like to think it’s Albertans responding to what the government is doing,” said Richardson, adding that the most important thing for a party is not beating its rivals but meeting its own fundraising targets.

“I do think the dollars you raise are an important metric for any political party because by 2019 you have to be financially ready to take the other guys on.”

Jeremy Nixon, executive director for the Wildrose, said the outpouring of support from constituency associations speaks volumes about the grassroots strength of the party.