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BY ALAN COCHRANE
Canadaeast News Service

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Liberal incumbent Brian Murphy promised to hold the federal government's feet to the fire on important issues such as a downtown metro centre, restoration of the Petitcodiac River and some relief on the cost of RCMP services after narrowly winning his seat in the riding of Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe on Tuesday.

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canadaeast news service/greg agnew photo

VICTORY SPEECH: Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe Liberal incumbent Brian Murphy addresses the media after his win in the federal election Tuesday.

The vote counting in Moncton played out like a tight hockey game that saw both Murphy and Conservative candidate Daniel Allain trading the lead several times. In the end, Murphy claimed victory with more than 1,000 votes over Allain.

"It was a little too close for comfort," Murphy told supporters gathered at the Moncton Press Club shortly after a brief meeting with Allain in the parking lot.

"The Liberals are going to have to go back to the blackboard and work a little harder next time to defeat Mr. Harper."

Murphy appeared both jubilant and relieved as he met with reporters and supporters at the club.

He was surrounded by his family and cousin, Moncton MLA and provincial Health Minister Mike Murphy, who admitted the MP was quite nervous at times while watching the returns.

Although the campaign battle between Allain and Murphy was at times bitter, with barbs traded through the media over each other's handling of issues, both said they were prepared to bury the hatchet and work together.

"What happens on the ice stays on the ice," Murphy said.

"One thing Mr. Allain and I have in common is that we both love Greater Moncton and we both love hockey and we will be able to put everything aside and work together."

Allain said he will be back at work today in his job as executive director of Downtown Moncton Centre Ville Inc.

He said a downtown metro centre and restoration of the Petitcodiac River will likely remain priorities, but he will have to follow the direction of the board.

Murphy said one of Allain's greatest accomplishments during the campaign was to get Tory cabinet minister Greg Thompson to commit to a metro centre for Moncton.

Coming in third was NDP candidate Carl Bainbridge, who said he was happy with the party's standing in a riding that has been traditionally Liberal. He said the charismatic leadership of Jack Layton helped raise the profile of the NDP at a time when many voters felt they couldn't support either the Conservatives or the Liberals.

"The NDP has never been super strong in the Maritimes," said Bainbridge, who watched the returns at home.

"But the NDP is growing stronger in this riding, a little, bit by bit. Eventually, I think, we are going to take this riding. It just depends on how bad things get."

Green party candidate Alison Menard said she was happy with her fourth place finish and glad to have received more than 3,000 votes in the riding.

"The campaign was really positive. It was our first experience campaigning and we're feeling positive."

She said the Green party is about more than just the environment and the campaign provided the party with a chance to get out and go door to door and spread the message.

She said people in the riding she visited seemed open to the party's principles and at the same time expressed dismay over the other parties.

"We've had a really good opportunity to get out the message of what our party stands for."