It is the kind of day political conspiracy theorists love.

A poll, two caucus meetings and whispers of political funerals. And once again the national story seems all about Quebec.

Federal Liberals gathered in Montreal to discuss their recent byelection blues and to develop a plan to win seats in Quebec in the next federal election. Last week's loss of Outremont, a long-time Liberal bastion, plunged the party into historic low territory of just 12 of 75 seats in the province.

And in a stark reminder of how in politics timing can be brutal, a poll released today indicates things could get worse for the Liberals before they get better.

The survey of Quebecers shows Liberal support among francophone voters at just 11 per cent, prompting a frank observation by Liberal strategist and former Cabinet minister Francis Fox. He told reporters that, at those numbers, Liberals can't expect to pick up any more seats.

And so while Liberals emerged from their strategy session with glum faces, the dutiful headed to the microphones to talk about uniting behind the leader and being ready to fight the next election.

Stéphane Dion took questions about his leadership. No problem. I'm ready for an election. I'll vote against the throne speech if we don't get what we want, he said.

No one is calling for his leadership head publicly, but privately Liberals are leaking their concerns. Some are even saying, bring on the election, let us lose and then rebuild under new leadership.

Down the highway, a couple of hours away in the nation's capital, another caucus meeting was also featuring brave faces and tough talk.

Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe brought his chief campaign organizer to meet reporters following his caucus meeting to say the Bloc is in election mode.

The same poll that was bad for the Liberals shows the Bloc getting a run for its money from the Conservatives.

Would the Bloc really want to trigger an election in which it would likely lose seats? To that Duceppe quipped his standard response about rumours of his demise being greatly exagerrated.

And finally, lots of tongue wagging about the intentions of Prime Minister Harper when he mused yesterday in New York about the strong likelihood of another minority government. Does he really think that or does he feel he needs to say that to calm people worried about giving him a majority?