NDP Surges ahead in Polls- Ipsos Poll suggests

The federal New Democratic Party has vaulted to levels of voter approval not seen since before the last federal election, as Canada's two major parties struggle to hold support, suggest findings of a poll released Friday.

The NDP surged six percentage points to 19% support nationally, according to results of an Ipsos Reid poll, commissioned by Canwest News Service and Global National.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's ruling Conservatives fell three points to 37%, shy of the 40% typically seen as a level needed to land a majority government. Michael Ignatieff's Liberals garnered 24% of support among respondents, a drop of one percentage point from late October.

The Liberals' steady descent has them almost at the same depths as in December of last year, when former leader Stephane Dion's call for a coalition government sat uneasily with a majority of Canadians. A poll taken Dec. 3 suggested the Liberals' support had dipped to 23%.