Good ratings for the first 80 days of the SNP-led administration at Holyrood yesterday boosted the party's long-term poll prospects.
However, the success may also have blunted the appeal of independence, days before Alex Salmond publishes his home rule referendum plans.
A poll published yesterday shows that the SNP's rule in Scotland enjoys a 40% satisfaction rating, including 10% who are "very satisfied", against only 12% who are dissatisfied, suggesting Alex Salmond has got off to a good start, even with the supporters of other parties.
Asked how they would vote if there were an election tomorrow, 48% of Scots said they would give their "first choice" to the SNP, up from 33% who backed the party with their constituency votes last May 3. It is hard to project the number of seats the party could win on that basis, but it could be an outright majority.
A significant finding of the Progressive Opinion poll - questioning 1012 people between July 31 and August 7 - was that the Labour vote appears to be holding up well, remaining at 32%.
It is the Tories and LibDems who appear to have given ground. Tories are down from their election performance of 17% to only 8%, while Lib- Dems are down from 16% in May to 8% also.
The SNP spin on the Labour figures, however, was that Scots are not giving the new Prime Minister the "Brown bounce" he is enjoying in UK-wide polling.
The more worrying news for the SNP is that support for independence is not rising in line with support for the party.
Asked if they would approve or disapprove of Scotland becoming independent, the poll found the electorate would be 31% against, 49% in favour, with 20% unsure. When asked last January how they would vote in an independence referendum, 51% was in favour, 36% against with 14% unsure.
Polling evidence on the question of independence has fluctuated widely, often depending on the question asked.
It will become more relevant next week, when Mr Salmond publishes a white paper setting out his plans for Scotland to become independent. That will include a draft bill, though it is not expected to be put to Parliament yet, and plans for a referendum.
The proposal is intended to be the start of a "national conversation" about Scotland's future. The SNP knows it has only 50 MSP votes in favour of a referendum, and the others strongly opposed. This most recent poll shows it also has a long way to go if it is to secure public support.
It may find that the success of the Salmond administration in registering positive ratings and polling support is undermining the case for independence. The danger for the independence cause is that an SNP administration that is thought to be effective and successful could show that the devolved powers already at Holyrood are sufficient.
An SNP spokesman said: "The poll underlines the success of the SNP government in delivering our programme at a pace that has left the opposition parties gasping."
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