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It is one of several polls released between Wednesday and Friday showing the NDP — who have never formed government in Alberta — with a strong lead over their rivals.

Other pollsters have been more measured in their predictions, saying regional disparities and the likelihood of three-way splits make the outcome difficult to call.

Many analysts have also pointed out that polls prior to the 2012 election indicated the Tories would be defeated by the Wildrose, but the PCs won a massive majority three years ago under then-premier Alison Redford.

But Maggi said polling done just as the 2015 campaign was starting showed unhappiness with Jim Prentice’s PC government over its tough budget and early election call — only voters felt an alternative was lacking.

Over the course of the four-week campaign, opposition to the Tories has coalesced around NDP Leader Rachel Notley after a strong performance in the leader’s debate, he said.

The party has gained 13 points since Mainstreet last polled six days earlier.

“The NDP is leading in every single category,” said Maggi. “It doesn’t matter how you break it down, certain voters, likely voters, men, women, every age bracket, every region, they’re leading.”

The poll shows the NDP in the lead in Calgary, where they have been shut out since 1993, with 35 per cent support among decided voters compared to the Wildrose’s 26 per cent and the Tories’ 24 per cent.

In Edmonton, where many pollsters are predicting a clean sweep of the capital’s 19 seats, Mainstreet has NDP support at 73 per cent — 57 points ahead of the second-place PCs.

Outside of the two largest cities, the NDP is in front at 39 per cent, followed by Wildrose at 33 per cent and the Tories at 22 per cent.

Maggi notes the number of undecideds has shrunk to 14 per cent in the poll.

The pollster believes the PCs have the best electoral machine and get-out-the-vote operation will be able to get out its vote, meaning “I would almost guarantee the PCs will outperform their numbers.”

But he predicted it will not be enough to outweigh the NDP’s momentum.

Mainstreet – Final Alberta Election Report

jwood@calgaryherald.com