Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair was in Windsor Wednesday, just a week after Prime Minister Stephen Harper was here to address auto industry leaders and name the new international bridge to be built between Windsor and Detroit.

Mulcair said his visit has nothing to do with Harper's visit and everything to do with the fact a federal election is likely just five months away.

Mulcair is predicting another surprising result for his party.

"They said in 2011 we could never break through in Quebec. They said the NDP would never be able to form a government in Alberta, but both of those have turned out to be wrong, and we've shown Canadians that we can be trusted to form a good, compassionate government, and that's what we plan to do," he said on Windsor Morning.

Mulcair was on Windsor Morning with host Tony Doucette. You can listen to the interview in the player below:

NDP leader Tom Mulcair is coming to Windsor today, just a week after the Prime Minister was here. 7:34

Mulcair visited several small businesses with Windsor West NDP Brian Masse. They touted a plan for small business tax cuts.

Mulcair's small business tour includeed a mid-morning stop at the Walkerville Brewery.

While Masse is the Windsor West incumbent, longtime NDP MP Joe Comartin is not seeking re-election in Windsor-Tecumseh.

That may have created an opening for other parties, including the Conservatives, who are running popular city councillor Jo-Anne Gignac.

Mulcair told CBC's Windsor Morning she will have to defend the prime minister during the campaign.

"Jo-Anne Gignac, despite her good work locally, is still going have to wear every single bad decision of Stephen Harper. Canadians who are opposed to the war in Iraq are not going to vote for a candidate, even though she might be well-liked locally, if they believe that it's a mistake for us to be bombing in Iraq," Mulcair said.

Canada's war in Iraq and Syria is expected to cost more than half a billion dollars by this time next year, Defence Minister Jason Kenney revealed last month.

Former Tecumseh deputy mayor Cheryl Hardcastle is the NDP candidate in the Windsor-Tecumseh riding, while Frank Schiller is running for the Liberals.