Newly-elected federal NDP leader Alexa McDonough celebrates her victory with Svend Robinson at the party's leadership convention in Ottawa, Oct.14, 1995. Known to everyone simply as Alexa, the leader of the federal NDP was seen to be folksy, sincere and a champion of the underdog. But too often, Alexa McDonough found herself to be the underdog, fighting to keep her party alive. (CP PHOTO/Andrew Wallace)