The poll indicates that Labour alone, with 30.8 percent, now is more popular among voters than the three non-socialist parties that now form Norway's government coalition.
The Conservatives (Høyre) claimed 17.6 percent of the vote in the new poll, down 2.9 points. The Christian Democrats (Kristelig Folkepartiet) had 6.3 percent, down again by 1.2 points, and the Liberals (Venstre) had just 3.6 percent. That left the three-party coalition with 27.5 percent of the vote.
The poll was conducted by research firm Opinion for newspaper Aftenposten and Norwegian Broadcasting Corp (NRK).
While Labour (Arbeiderpartiet) saw its popularity among voters jump, the Socialist Left (SV) also gained nearly two points to claim 15.6 percent of the vote. If the two parties were ever to reconcile differing views on such issues as EU and NATO membership (Labour is in favour, SV opposed) and join forces, they'd have 46.4 percent, dwarfing the ruling coalition's support.
Labour Party leader Jens Stoltenberg attributed his party's gain to the Conservatives' effort to lambaste Labour and spread fear of "a red danger" looming over the land. "They're losing by being so critical of us," Stoltenberg said, adding that most Norwegians still value a social welfare state despite the high taxes it implies.
Norway's most right-leaning party, meanwhile, also gained in the recent poll. The Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) jumped a full point to claim 16.8 percent of the vote.
