Alex Salmond is Scottish voters’ top choice for First Minister - with Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray trailing in third place, a poll conducted for STV shows.
As the party leaders prepare to go head to head in the first television debate, the survey of 1028 adults shows the SNP leader clearly out in front.
In all, 30% of those polled saying Mr Salmond would make the best First Minister for Scotland. Scottish Conservatives leader Annabel Goldie took second place, polling at 9%, with Iain Gray, leader of Scottish Labour, coming in third at 7%.
SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "I'm pleasantly suprised by how quickly we've got into this position. I thought it might take us a week or two into the campaign.
"I was always confident that when people focused on the Scottish election, then that was good news for the SNP."
Trailing behind the others was Tavish Scott, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, with support from just 2% of voters. A further 37% of those polled did not know who would be the best to lead Scotland, while 16% said none of the candidates were up to the job.
The news comes after the same poll put Labour one point ahead of the SNP in voting intention for constituency MSPs – 38% to 37% - and saw the two parties tied for the regional vote at 35%.
The SNP’s deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the poll, which she said put Salmond “head and shoulders above all of the other party leaders”.
She added: “This is a fantastic poll for the SNP – coming just the day after a poll that showed this election is neck-and-neck it’s really good news. Alex Salmond has demonstrated over the past four years that he’s got the drive and determination needed in the job. He’s got the personality and charisma to get things done. He’s somebody who stands up for Scotland.”
But Labour leader Iain Gray was not discouraged by his third place position in the poll, saying he was looking forward to holding his own the debate on STV on Tuesday night.
Speaking to STV's Harry Smith, Mr Gray said: "For 20 years, Alex Salmond has been the leader of a party that is essentially a one-man band. So much so, that they're trying to change the name of their party again to the Alex Salmond party, like they did in 2007.
"So really, it's not surprising that his profile is higher than mine. This is not a presidential election. This is an election between parties, and people know what the Labour party stand for."
Meanwhile Tory campaign leader David McLetchie was pleased with Miss Goldie’s performance.
He said: “Annabel’s no-nonsense, common-sense approach strikes a chord with voters. Scotland wants, and needs, leaders prepared to stand up and tell it like it is.”
The survey, by researchers from Edinburgh-based TNS-BRMB, included voters from 55 constituencies, weighted to match population profile estimates in order to ensure it was representative of Scotland’s adult population.
Scotland Debates will be broadcast on STV from 9pm tonight, with a live stream of the debate and commentary at stv.tv/election.
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