The governing NDP and the opposition Liberals are in a statistical tie according to a new poll released this afternoon from Corporate Research Associates.

The Liberals pulled ahead of the NDP for the first time in years, coming in at 35 per cent. The NDP dropped four points since last quarter, with 34 per cent. The Progressive Conservatives held firm at third place, with 26 per cent.

Premier Darrell Dexter also took a hit in personal popularity, dropping to 23 per cent in February 2011, down from 31 per cent during last November. Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil dropped slightly to 26 per cent, while Tory Leader Jamie Baillie dropped to 13 per cent.

A full 27 per cent of respondents didn’t know who they would prefer as premier of Nova Scotia, up 13 per cent from last November.

CRA polled 804 voting-aged Nova Scotians between Feb. 7 and March 3, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 per cent.