"In some parts of the country there is a real risk that a surge toward the NDP could sap the Liberal vote and have the perverse effect of tipping more seats to the Conservatives. Voters worried about that should consider voting strategically — giving their support to the progressive candidate best placed to win."
Unfortunately only the “hard core” think along those lines, most voters say “meh”-I’ll pick the one I like the least (be darned to strategery)...
This whole “strategic voting” thing has gotten out of hand — there are even “vote exchange” web sites. Some acquaintances opposed Proportional Representation (STV, in BC) on the basis that it was too complicated — yet they also advocate strategic voting. It's nuts, strategic voting is many, many times more complicated than PR would be. First, you have to decide who you least like. Then you have to decide who you dislike somewhat less, who will be more likely to win. That's pretty hard to do, when the polls are in flux, and the whole game changes in a week or so.