Some polls suggest the New Democrats are picking up strength as the final week of the campaign looms.
Don Desserud, a political science professor at UNBSJ, says whether or not the gains translate into seats will depend on how spread out the support is.
Desserud says the New Democrats still only have about 20 per cent of the vote and need to have at least 30 per cent to be a proper contender.
Desserud says what Jack Layton has done well is make the party look like a viable option for those people looking for an alternative to the Harper Conservatives.
