Socialist rodeo....

NDP Leader Jack Layton enjoyed one of his rowdiest, foot-stomping, hooting and hollering campaign events so far - in Alberta of all places.

“Be careful now, you are shocking the national press gallery,” Layton told a crowd of more than 400 people who packed an Edmonton community centre Wednesday night.

The strong showing for the NDP comes in a city and province normally known for its strong Conservative ties. But the rally took place in Edmonton Strathcona, where the NDP figures its has its best chance of making inroads with candidate Linda Duncan. Still, it will be an uphill battle to unseat Conservative Rahim Jaffer who held the riding going into the vote.

But that didn’t deter Layton - or the crowd of raucous supporters who literally had the walls and floor shaking with their pounding feet and clapping hands.

“Canada is going to learn that Edmonton is not all Conservative,” Layton said. He said it’s time the Liberals spent were sent to the “penalty box.”

“Should it be two years for misbehaviour? Or five years for interference with good government?”