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Premier Pauline Marois struggled to regain control of a floundering Parti Qubcois election campaign amid signs the Quebec Liberal Party is widening its lead among voters in the final weeks of the election race and could be on track to form a majority government.

The PQ Leader found herself on the defensive Tuesday as Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard, now the perceived front-runner in the race, challenged her to release her familys financial records, and she refused.

Ms. Marois, eager to shift away from the topics of sovereignty and a referendum, tried to push the campaign onto the terrain of Liberal integrity. But Mr. Couillard struck back, announcing he will release his 2012 personal income tax returns as well as details on his personal assets and those of his spouse.

Here we have a practical test on transparency and integrity, he said as called on other party leaders to do the same.

Ms. Marois declined, dismissing Mr. Couillards gambit as little more than a diversion.

The Liberal Leaders move appeared to be aimed specifically at Ms. Maroiss husband, businessman Claude Blanchet, although Mr. Couillard denied this.

Late Tuesday, the PQ confirmed party officials met in February with investigators from the province's anti-corruption squad, known as UPAC. No specific allegations of wrongdoing were revealed and no search warrants or arrests were executed.

Quebec's corruption inquiry has heard the province's three main political parties all accepted illegal donations over the years, with the Liberals taking the bulk of the cash.

But news of the "informal meeting," as the PQ described it, promised to blunt the line of attack on alleged Liberal corruption they have tried to renew.

The PQ has fumbled with early campaign issues such as sovereignty while the Liberals appear to be gaining momentum toward the April 7 vote. An opinion survey by Lger for the Journal de Montral-Journal de Qubec the first extensive poll of the election showed the Liberals surging ahead with 40 per cent of popular support, ahead of the PQ with 33 per cent, the Coalition Avenir Qubec with 15 per cent and Qubec Solidaire at 9 per cent.

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Marois on defensive as Liberals widen lead in Quebec election