The latest Opinion poll done for Aftenposten and Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) measures SV at 22.7 percent, just ahead of Labor on 22.0 percent. The populist Progress Party (Fr.P), which has enjoyed a protracted run as Norway's favorite political party, fell 3.7 percent points to 21.5 percent and third place.
SV's popular leader Kristin Halvorsen refused to let the increasingly impressive figures go to her head.
"I think that we are have connected with a change and mobilization of values. One thing is the war, but it is broader than that. This is a reaction to markets, commerce and profit," Halvorsen said.
Halvorsen refused to discuss the make-up of potential SV-led coalitions, saying the party's credibility was based on concentrating on political issues.
Halvorsen agreed that an SV-Labor alliance could be problematic due to their basic disagreement about European Union membership, SV being opposed to joining the EU.
