OTTAWA - A new poll suggests the federal NDP is enjoying a big bounce in popularity since choosing Thomas Mulcair as leader.

The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey indicates the New Democrats have surged into a statistical tie with the Conservatives, with the parties at 32 and 34 per cent support respectively.

The NDP boost comes almost entirely at the expense of the Liberals, who have slipped back to 19 per cent -- the same all-time low they received in last May's election when the self-styled natural governing party was reduced to a third-party rump.

The orange surge was particularly strong in Quebec, Mulcair's home base, where the NDP has vaulted back in front with 39 per cent to the Bloc Quebecois' 24; Liberals and Conservatives were tied at 14 per cent.

The NDP was also leading in British Columbia, with 44 per cent to 30 for the Tories, 13 for the Liberals and 11 for the Greens.

The telephone survey of 2,003 Canadians was conducted March 22-April 2 and is considered accurate within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times in 20.