Gilles Duceppe confident he can persuade voters to back Bloc Qubcois

Gilles Duceppe says there's still lots of time left to persuadevoters to support the Bloc Qubcois before the Oct. 19 federal election.

Despite trailing in the polls, the Bloc leader insists morale remains high inside the party.

"There are stillsix weeks left in the campaign," he told reporters on Monday.

"That's longer than the usual campaign, so I'm confident that we'll be able to convince people."

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Duceppe was in Montreal on Monday for his party's general council meeting, where members are expected to adopt their electoral platform and campaign finances behind closed doors.

The Bloc will also unveil itsofficial campaign slogan and will decide on the visual elements to appear on candidates' campaign posters.

Duceppe is set to open his campaign office Monday evening in LaurierSainte-Marie, the riding he represented for nearly 20 years before losing his seat to the NDP's Hlne Laverdire four years ago.

The NDP nearly swept the province in 2011, winning 58 of Quebec's 75 seats and reducing the Bloc to a meagre four from their previous 47.

Christian Bourque, executive vice-president and senior partner at Lger Marketing, said the Bloc continues to struggle in the polls this time around, and the campaign so far hasn't played to the party's strengths.

"There's always a segment of the electorate that wants to vote for a sovereignist party even federally, to send that statement," he said.

"However, in this campaign, which started out and is still sort of a referendum on the Conservative regime, in particular, is thekind of race in which the Bloc doesn't stand a chance."

Bourque said the Bloc's best chance is to focus on pockets of support in ridings such asAbitibi-Tmiscamingue and Verchres-Les Patriotes, both of which were held by the party before the NDP took them over.

Duceppe has also said he's opento supporting a coalition with either the NDP or Liberals.

OnSunday, he toldCBC News Network's Power&Politicsthere's one party he refuses to consider aligning with, should October's election result in a minority government.

"I'm always open, but no blank cheque and certainly not with Stephen Harper," Duceppe said.