The Progressive Conservatives are poised to win the next election, but Premier Kathleen Wynne has pulled the minority Liberals out of a tailspin, a new poll suggests.

In the first public-opinion survey since Wynne’s throne speech Tuesday outlined how she planned to govern, the Tories are at 36 per cent, the Liberals at 29 per cent, the New Democrats at 28 per cent, and the Greens at 5 per cent.

Forum Research also found the new premier’s approval rating was better than predecessor Dalton McGuinty, who retired almost two weeks ago.

“They’ve got the start of a lift,” Forum president Lorne Bozinoff said Thursday of the Liberals.

“The only thing is the three-way splits really favour the Tories … although no one can really close the deal for a majority yet,” said Bozinoff, pointing out PC Leader Tim Hudak lags behind his own party’s popularity.

In the last Forum survey on Jan. 24 — two days before Wynne won the Liberal leadership — the NDP led with 35 per cent, the Tories were at 32 per cent, the Liberals were at 27 per cent, and the Greens 5 per cent.

“The NDP is between a rock and a hard place,” said Bozinoff, noting as things stand the third party has “got a tough choice to make when the budget comes” in April about whether to continue to budget the Liberals.

That’s because Wynne appears to be siphoning support from NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

Using interactive voice-response telephone calls, Forum polled 1,053 people across Ontario on Wednesday.

Horwath had the highest approval rating with 49 per cent compared to 36 per cent for Wynne and 27 per cent for Hudak.

In comparison, McGuinty was at 21 per cent last month.

“Approval ratings for Hudak are always low. I don’t know why,” said Bozinoff, pointing out 50 per cent disapproved of Hudak compared with 30 per cent who disapprove of Wynne and 24 per cent of Horwath.

While the Tory leader insisted Thursday he wants an election soon — because it’s time to “change the team” — Bozinoff said respondents seem to want to give Wynne the chance to govern.

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Only about one third of those polled — 34 per cent — want an election now. That compares to 48 per cent on Jan. 24 when McGuinty fatigue was at its zenith.

“She has an opportunity. Time is still on the Liberals’ side,” he said.

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