WINNIPEG immigrants said it's front-runner Michael Ignatieff's roots as much as his policies that are winning support as the blitz for delegates to the Liberal leadership contest kicked off in Winnipeg yesterday.

"The thing that got me most was he's an immigrant. And I'm a new immigrant," said dentist Nimer Grewal, who received her landed immigrant status just last month and said her choice for new leader is Ignatieff.

"He's our guy because he'll give more rights to immigrants -- and he's also from Russia," [Surinder Brar] said.