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Jack-o'-lanterns for Jack?

Political Bytes

Rosemary Barton

Jack Layton hit Montreal's famed Atwater market today. It is a traditional stop for politicians on the hustings in Quebec.

He mingled with people buying their weekend produce and managed to buy — and distribute — a basket of Quebec apples. He also got a box of fancy, Quebec-made chocolates for his wife, Olivia Chow.

Plenty of people stopped to chat with him and ask him questions, including one man who said, "I just want you to unite the left, OK?"

Layton said, "That's just what we're trying to do".

Then he headed outside to hold a media scrum — in front of pumpkins. No word on whether the orange pumpkins are part of the 'orange wave' Layton talks about so often.

— Rosemary Barton