a time when finances for the party were relatively tight. On 11 May 2007, Gilles Duceppe issued a press release announcing his candidacy and Pauline Marois announced her own to the press minutes later. Pierre Curzi, an actor and former Union des artistes president, was a third name often mentioned by the media for a possible candidacy. Just 24 hours after his candidacy announcement, Gilles Duceppe chose to withdraw from the race. His decision ensued from the sweeping popular support for Pauline Marois, as described in a CROP poll on La Presse's front-page the day after the announcement. In the poll, 45% of the respondents had chosen Marois and only 21% were for Duceppe. A number of key Parti québécois MNAs also chose to support the former minister, thereby reducing Duceppe's chances. In a communique Duceppe declared he wanted to "avoid a duel which could divide and therefore weaken the sovereigntist movement". Candidates Official Pauline Marois: Entered the race on May 11, 2007 and became an official candidate on June 18, 2007. Supports: MNA Bernard Drainville (May 9), MNA Marie Malavoy (May 11), MNA Danielle Doyer (May 11), MNA Denis Trottier (May 11), MP Christiane Gagnon (May 11), MP Réal Ménard (May 11), former PQ regional association president for Quebec City Philippe-Edwin Bélanger (May 11). Withdrew Gilles Duceppe: Entered the race on 11 May 2007, but withdrew 24 hours later after witnessing a wave of popular support for Pauline Marois. Duceppe threw his support to Marois and voiced a wish to remain leader of the Bloc in Ottawa. Speculated Pierre Curzi Joseph Facal Diane Lemieux Declined Bernard Drainville: Threw his support for Pauline Marois' candidacy the day after Boisclair's departure, before Marois officially entered the race. Bernard Landry: Promptly confirmed after the resignation of Boisclair that he had no intention of running. Polls Timeline March 26, 2007: The Parti Québécois is third in number of seats at the Quebec general elections. May 3, 2007: Former PQ Minister Denis Lazure addresses an open letter to leader André Boisclair in Le Devoir calling for his resignation. May 4, 2007: At an interview taping of the SRC political programme Les coulisses du pouvoir, André Boisclair claims to believe in an attempt to unseat him by Gilles Duceppe's entourage, so Duceppe can talk the helm of the PQ. Criticism from within the sovereigntist movement follows. May 8, 2007: Leader André Boisclair resigns. May 9,