Majority territory

Obviously it's dangerous to rely too much on any one poll result - but this one should have all opposition parties worried:

The federal Liberals had the support of 40 per cent of respondents in a new poll - virtually the same level of backing they received in rolling to their majority government in 2000.

The Leger Marketing survey, conducted Sept. 6-11, pegged Conservative support at 24 per cent, while the NDP stood at 15 per cent and the Bloc Quebecois at 13 per cent...

Marois said the poll revealed strong growth for the Liberals in Western Canada, including a jump of 16 percentage points in Alberta in two months and an increase of 14 percentage points in British Columbia...

While the poll had the Liberals way out in the lead in popular support, 53 per cent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with Martin's government, compared with 40 per cent who were satisfied.

The article notes that there would be serious risks for the Liberals in trying to push for an election anytime soon. And the dissatisfaction numbers show that a lot of people are willing to push Martin out of power given the right alternative.

But it does seem clear that the Libs are getting credit for the bulk of the good that's been done during the current Parliament, and that's a trend that the NDP will have to fight - particularly if it's not able to set its terms for cooperation as publicly as it did this spring.