Take the challenge

It's been awhile since I suggested a donation to Saskatchewan's federal NDP ridings, with a focus on those which already had a candidate in place. But with the Local Victories Challenge now taking place (ensuring that your donation goes even further than it normally would), it's an ideal time for a reminder that the NDP's efforts to challenge the Cons across the province rely on enough local resources to at least partially level the playing field against the Harper money machine.

So I'll encourage readers to take the opportunity to make a donation toward one or more of the following ridings:

Battlefords-Lloydminster - Currently held by Con Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, whose exploits shouldn't require much introduction. The NDP pulled ahead of the pack into a solid second place in 2008 - but has a ways to go in taking back what's been fertile territory in the past.

Cypress Hills-Grasslands - The NDP finished a distant second here in 2008, and the lack of much competition may explain why Con MP David Anderson may have figured he could get away with doing nothing during his Harper Holiday. Needless to say, it would be a plus to prove him wrong.

Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River - With star candidate Lawrence Joseph seeking the NDP's nomination, this should be one of the NDP's top target ridings in the next election.

Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre - An NDP seat as recently as 2000, and with the Libs dropping out of the picture over the past couple of elections the NDP's next candidate will be easily the strongest contender for the riding. And as an added bonus, your donation can help to unseat Tom Lukiwski.

Regina-Qu'Appelle - Consistently an NDP seat until 2004, but has unfortunately stayed in Andrew Scheer's hands despite strong challenges from Lorne Nystrom and Janice Bernier. And money looks to have been a key factor: Nystrom was able to win against Les Winter when he had the cash advantage, but the Cons have taken the riding largely by outspending the NDP in recent cycles.

Souris-Moose Mountain - Ed Komarnicki is another of the Cons' napping MPs due to a lack of recent competition. But the NDP has performed strongly in the area before, and Raquel Fletcher managed to earn second place for the party (ten points ahead of the Libs and Greens) in 2008.

Wascana - Lib MP Ralph Goodale has been in the Cons' cross-hairs for several election cycles now. But the NDP has plenty of history of success in the riding, holding the main component seat throughout the '80s and beating both Goodale and the Cons at least once after that. (And it's also my home riding, so I'm particularly interested in seeing it won back into NDP hands.)

Yorkton-Melville - Garry Breitkreuz has managed to hold the riding for a disturbingly long time as a frequently-offensive one-issue MP. But Lorne Nystrom's longtime seat should be one which the NDP can compete for again, particularly if Breitkreuz' one issue disappears.

Edit: fixed link.