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The national poll of 1,003 eligible voters conducted for Canwest News Service, 50 percent said Harper would make the best prime minister, followed by the leader of the socialist New Democratic Party, Jack Layton at 30 percent.

The Liberal party is the largest opposition in parliament, but its leader, Stephane Dion ranked third with just 20 percent support.

The poll's margin of error was 3.1 percentage points, the report said.

Tuesday, a Globe and Mail-CTV News poll on party preferences also showed 37 percent support for the Conservatives, 29 percent for Liberals, 17 percent for the socialist New Democratic Party and 9 percent for the Green Party.The balance of the opinions were for independents or the separatist Bloc Quebecois party, which also sits in opposition in Parliament.

Harper has made every political indication he intends to call for the dissolution of Parliament this week and call an election Oct. 14, various national media have reported.

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