Good news for the federal NDP?

Is the NDP's recent victory in the New Westminster-Coquitlam by-election a sign of things to come? Hard to say, but many are suggesting that the HST was a major factor. Layton certainly hopes so:

“[This] was the first election on the HST,” says the NDP Leader, whose party's portion of the riding vote went up eight points from 2008 results. “If it's even worth five points [of vote share], that's worth seats in B.C. and Ontario.”

From the Globe and Mail. With the Liberals in disarray, could it be that the NDP is poised to become the realistic alternative to the Cons? Too soon to tell (a lot can change by the time the general election comes along) but this is worth watching for sure.