With the prospect of a Conservative majority government under threat from an unlikely source, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is painting the NDP as a threat to the economy -- a charge he had reserved for the Liberals until now.
Harper's main opponent has become New Democrat Leader Jack Layton, who was experienced a near-meteoric rise in the polls that has vaulted his party to second place nationally, and first in Quebec.
Speaking at a Jewish community centre in Montreal on Friday morning, Harper warned that the NDP would damage the economy by boosting federal spending, gas prices, the deficit, taxes and unemployment, among other things if they were able to form a coalition government.
Such a government would involve "tens of billions of dollars of new spending, financed by tens of billions of dollars of new taxes," Harper said. "The only way to avoid that is to stay on a low-tax plan to create jobs and growth, by ensuring a majority government for our Conservative party."
A main feature of Harper's stump speech has been his claim that the opposition parties would join forces to try to form a government if the Conservatives don't win a majority.
For most of the campaign, Harper has claimed Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff would he at the head of such a coalition. But now Layton is the prospective coalition leader, Harper says.
The NDP has actually promised to eliminate the deficit. However, the party's platform has come under closer scrutiny in recent days for being fiscally unrealistic.
Layton dismissed Harper's new attack line, pointing out that the Conservatives introduced sales taxes in B.C. and Ontario, subsidized the oil sands, failed to deliver a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions, and created the largest public deficit in the country's history.
"Maybe he would prefer that people forget that," Layton said. "But that's the truth."
The Conservative have focused on the economic matters on the campaign trail, pledging to keep taxes low and reduce the deficit. But to win a majority at the ballot box they will have to check rising NDP support.
Leading in Quebec
The NDP's primary gains have been in Quebec, with the Bloc Quebecois falling far behind in polling by Nanos Research.
The New Democrats received a surprising boost in Quebec on Friday. In an open letter to La Presse, two key Bloc members said they were switching their votes to the New Democrats and called on fellow Bloc members to do the same.
In the letter, Maxime Bellerose and Benoit Demuy argued that the Bloc has had its chance, has done all it can for Quebec, and that it's time to explore another option.
But while Layton may have not expected the support from the Bloc members, he is likely expecting to face attacks from Ignatieff, Harper and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe on Friday as they turn a critical eye on the NDP's policies and platform.
Duceppe lashed out at Layton on Friday, continuing his accusations that the NDP doesn't care about Quebec, as proven by weak candidates in the province, one of whom struggles to speak French.
Ignatieff has also attacked "Smilin' Jack," saying Canadians shouldn't mistake Layton's likability for an ability to lead the country.
The Liberal leader said he doesn't put much stock in poll numbers and argued that all that matters is what happens on election day. He also took aim at the Conservatives for using fear to try to win votes.
"This is the game plan -- be afraid. Be very afraid," Ignatieff said in Val d'Or, Que.
"First the sky will fall, second the economy will go to hell, third there will be some coalition that they keep inventing because there is no coalition. You can't treat the Canadian people this way. There's nothing to be afraid of in this country. This is Canada for heaven's sake, stop treating us like frightened children."
Meanwhile the Liberals have issued almost daily "Reality Check" news releases questioning the cost of the NDP proposals and asking where the money would come from.
Layton has faced repeated questions from the media in recent days about the cost of his policies and about reports that some candidates in Quebec don't live in the province, are currently on vacation, or don't speak French.
Layton appeared frustrated while answering repeated questions on the matter during a campaign stop Thursday in Yellowknife
"So that you can ask your questions, I'll let you interrupt me as often as you want, but I'll try to answer as best as I can. Can I finish a sentence?" he demanded of a reporter.
Leaders on the campaign trail
After starting his day in Montreal, Harper headed to Brampton, Ont., where he is trying to steal precious seats from the Liberals in the vital 905 region surrounding Toronto.
It was reported Friday that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will officially endorse Harper during the Brampton stop Friday evening.
Ignatieff began his day in Val d'Or, Que. before following Harper to Ontario for events in London and Kitchener.
Layton, riding the tide of his newfound support, is going on the attack, campaigning in two Conservative-held B.C. ridings. He campaigned Friday in Kamloops, in the B.C. interior, and then in Courtenay on Vancouver Island.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May was in B.C., where she hopes to finally win a seat in a battle against Conservative junior cabinet minister Gary Lunn.
Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe travelled through rural Quebec Friday.
