New Democrat candidate Malcolm Allen had Peter Tabuns in Welland on Monday. The Toronto-Centre NDP MPP and hopeful party leader at the provincial level came to support Allen, who has a good chance of being the last candidate standing on Oct. 14.

At least Tabuns certainly thinks so.

"That's what I hear in Toronto," he said, at Allen's East Main Street office. "Among the campaigns to watch in Ontario, this is one of them."

Tabuns knocked on doors with Allen in the city. Allen said he continues to hear people who are worried about the economy and said the NDP party and Jack Layton are the only ones who understand the concerns.

"There's no doubt folks in this area are worried about the direction the economy is going," said Allen, adding that his party's leader is the only one who has mentioned the closure of John Deere Welland Works, affecting 800 jobs, at a national level.

"Jack Layton mentions it constantly," he said.

Conservative candidate Alfred Kiers was also joined by high party ranks this week. First, Environment Minister John Baird visited Kiers' Lincoln Street office on Saturday, announcing $40 million in funding to help southern Ontario's economy.

Kiers, whose father died this week, halting campaign operations, also hosted Chuck Strahl on Monday. Strahl, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, said the money will help Welland deal with the economic stresses the city is facing.

He said despite the layoffs - Henniges Automotives also plans to axe about 235 jobs by Christmas time - Canada's economy as a whole is still strong, much stronger than America's, actually creating 100,000 jobs in the past year.

Low taxes and targetted regional investment is key, said Strahl.

"We simply have to do all we can in these types of areas so manufacturers and people growing the economy remain strong," said Strahl.

Incumbent Liberal MP John Maloney himself hosted MP Ken Dryden on Wednesday as he continued to knock on doors, acknowledging the push put on by his opponents in a tight race.

"We've been campaigning at 110 per cent," said Maloney. "Anything can happen. We're never confident. We always go at it as if we're in the fight of our lives."

Maloney, who himself has been campaigning for a federally funded regional economic development office in the area, said that the Conservatives $40-million announcement sounded good, but it's just not enough.

"We have 12 regional municipalities in Niagara alone who could easily eat that up," he said. "It's a little too little. He's on the right track; it's just not enough money."

Allen was skeptical of the Conservative pledge, suggesting it was a "make-up call," trying to win back voters after Prime Minister Stephen Harper brushed off the economy while in Welland, instead stopping in the city to discuss flavoured tobacco.

"I've heard promises before," said Allen. "We need to see action."