Debates 'fail to erode' Harper's election support

Ottawa: The first major opinion poll taken after Canada's election debates has shown that the ruling Conservatives were headed for a strengthened mandate but still would fall short of a majority of seats in Parliament. The Ekos survey on Sunday put the Conservatives, led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, at 35 per cent and the Liberals back at 25 per cent. The New Democratic Party (NDP), to the left of the Liberals, stood at 19 per cent. Debates in French and English on Wednesday and Thursday respectively "appear to have failed to shake up the election race, despite what some... [read full story]