A CROP poll commissioned for the Coalition Avenir Quebec shows the party is gaining ground among francophones at the expense of the Parti Quebecois.
The Globe and Mail obtained the poll, which surveyed 1,000 francophone Quebecers on March 28 and 29.
According to the poll the Parti Quebecois has the support of 36 percent of francophones, while 29 percent prefer the Liberals and 24 percent support the CAQ. Eight percent choose Quebec Solidaire.
The previous CROP poll, conducted from March 12 to 16, had francophone support at 43 percent for the PQ while 30 percent favoured the Liberals, and 17 percent chose the CAQ.
That continues a steady decline in support for the PQ since a high point in February, before the election was called, when the PQ had a 26 percentage point lead over the LIberal party.
When it came to which leader was running the best campaign, a plurality of francophones felt that Liberal leader Philippe Couillard had run the best campaign, followed by the CAQ's Francois Legault and then PQ leader Pauline Marois.
The timing of the poll indicates Legault's aggressive performance in the one-on-one debates on Thursday March 27 revved up his campaign and improved his image among francophone voters.
More opinion polls are expected to be released later this week by CROP and by Leger.
