CanU2.  You read me wrong.  I note that 38% is more than what any of the other parties got, and Harper effectively won (good, from a democratic point of view and unlike what just happened in the US).  And I agree that practically none of the those NDP voters would have second choiced Harper.  The question is if 60% of Liberal voters would have gone Conservative (they got 19%) if the Liberals didn't run.  I doubt it.  I have never voted NDP, but would have in that election or the last if it would have beat Harper.