Election: Quebec pivotal for Conservatives

MONTREAL, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The Canadian Conservatives' hopes for a majority government after Tuesday's federal election appear hampered by Quebec separatists, The Gazette newspaper said.

In 37 days of campaigning, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe all but ignored the Liberal party and the socialist New Democratic Party in his speeches, the newspaper said.

A poll published Saturday in the French-language La Presse daily showed support for the Bloc at 42 percent, compared with 20 percent for the Conservatives.

The Bloc holds 51 of the province's parliamentary seats to the Conservatives' 11. The Liberals have 13.

From the first day of campaigning, Duceppe ignored the Liberals and targeted Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whom he called a liar, cheat and arrogant, the Gazette said.

"Stephen Harper is trying to get a majority to impose without limit his ideology inspired by (U.S. President) George Bush," Duceppe said in one speech. "The battle of Quebec will be determinant because only the Bloc can block the road for the Conservatives."

There are 5.3 million eligible voters in Quebec, and Leger Marketing reported 40 percent of them wait to decide how to vote until the last weekend before the election.