In a high-profile move after Boisclair's resignation Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Québécois, had announced his candidacy but withdrew after witnessing sweeping overall support for Marois.

At that time, the governing party in Quebec City was dealing with unparalleled unpopularity under neoliberal Jean Charest's Liberal Party, the Sponsorship Scandal was badly hurting the Liberal federal government's standing and support for Quebec independence was at record highs.

However, as the election date limit approached, Boisclair's popularity waned, a Conservative federal government claiming to be more conciliatory was elected (and made in-roads in Quebec after more than a decade of drought), the Liberal Party of Quebec gained back support by moving back towards the center and the Action démocratique du Québec rapidly gained popularity (as it had in 2002, only to lose it the year after), notably on the reasonable accommodation controversy.

This event created a sizable amount of criticism from within the sovereigntist movement and prompted a surprised Duceppe to deny the allegations.

[1][2] 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.