I don't know.  American strategists and American publicity worked very well for the Liberals.  The New York Times and other liberal US media didn't break with past practice and notice Canadian politics, pre-writ, out of the blue.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-liberals-using-grassroots-mobilization-tactics-from-obama-campaigns/article22216447/

I suppose Obama's strategists would have better spent their time at home.  The election of Trump was a good kick-in-the-pants to them.