OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper heads into 2013 with most Canadians opposing him but still backed by a “solid” coalition of voters that delivered him a majority victory in the last election, a new poll has found.

The Ipsos Reid survey, conducted exclusively for Postmedia News and Global TV, reveals that Harper’s governing Conservatives, 20 months after winning re-election, are maintaining a steady core of support among voters.

Pollsters say that at this point in a government’s mandate, public opinion has often begun to turn against an incumbent prime minister.

But that isn’t happening with Harper’s Tories, who were elected with 39.6 of the vote in the May 2011 election.

On a range of questions — such as whether Harper is doing a good job, is representing the “values” of people, and should run again in the 2015 election, the prime minister has support levels among Canadians that exceed 40 per cent.

And although most Canadians dislike Harper and his approach to politics, their clout in the next election is diminished by the fact that their vote is split between opposition parties.

“He’s solid, solid, solid.” Ipsos Reid president Darrell Bricker said of the prime minister.

“Usually, governments that govern longest tend to accumulate barnacles and cuts and bruises and all sorts of other problems. They lose momentum.”

But Bricker said the governing Tories have managed to maintain the support of a “loyal coalition” of Canadians.

He said the situation is similar to the political dynamics from previous decades, when conservatives in the Reform and Progressive Conservative parties were presenting a “divided opposition,” allowing the Liberals under Jean Chretien to get re-elected.

Bricker said that despite the “outrage” and “contempt” that political critics in Ottawa routinely level at Harper, the only Canadians affected are those who already didn’t like the prime minister.

“The truth is that he’s got his coalition,” said Bricker.

“And the thing about the Tory coalition is it’s pretty solid. The people who like him, like him. And the people who don’t, don’t. Ever thus.

“People need to stop thinking about this as if he’s got to win 100 per cent of the vote. He doesn’t. In the last election, he won just under 40 per cent. Sounds like he’s got about five points clearance.”

Among the findings in the Dec. 7-12 Ipsos Reid poll:

* 44 per cent of Canadians think Harper’s majority government is “working well,” while 56 per cent don’t think it is.

* 45 per cent like the way Harper is “handling his job as prime minister,” while 55 per cent don’t.

* 44 per cent share Harper’s “values” on where Canada should be headed, compared to 56 per who don’t.

* 48 per cent think Harper’s “approach to politics” has been good for Canada, while 52 per cent don’t think so.

* 44 per cent think Harper’s approach to politics has been good for Parliament, while 56 per cent don’t think so.

* 43 per cent think Harper should run for office again in the next election, set for 2015, while 57 per cent think he should quit.