Details of an internal Tory memo surfaced on Thursday asking party members to contribute "urgent" funds for an election that could start within days.

Despite Prime Minister Stephen Harper's insistence he doesn't want to campaign anytime soon, party insiders say an election could be called after the federal budget is tabled on Monday.

"We need to be ready to campaign within the next week,'' said the document written by Irving Gerstein, chair of the Conservative Fund Canada.

"Without your help, we may need to cut back on major parts of our campaign plan. That's why I'm making an urgent appeal today to our most loyal supporters.''

The document was obtained after it was sent to a former Conservative member who still receives party correspondence. 

Gerstein is requesting donations of $75 or $150 to ensure the party's plans for the first few days of the campaign run smoothly.

"We may have only a little time left to finalize our finances for the first few days of the upcoming election,'' Gerstein wrote.

He concluded the memo with yet another urgent plea to loyal supporters.

"We are in a campaign readiness status right now,'' Gerstein wrote.

"There could be an election very soon. Please act now and send the most generous contribution you can today.''

While the memo touts an impending campaign, calling a federal election would go against Harper's promise of fixed election dates.

A Strategic Counsel poll, released on Friday, conducted for CTV News and The Globe and Mail suggests the three major parties are in a stalemate with the same support results as the last time an election was called.

Harper's Tories had the support of 36 per cent, while the Liberals garnered 31 per cent, according to the survey of 1,000 Canadians conducted March 10-13. The NDP had 15 per cent and the Green Party 10 per cent.

The poll of 1,000 Canadians has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.

However, if an election is called all parties would face considerable challenges.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is busy organizing his party around new platforms and working on his language skills.

The NDP are struggling to garner more support to cement their position above the Green Party and the Parti Quebecois is busy with the final leg of campaigning for the provincial election on March 26.

The only way for Harper to ensure an election is called would be to present a budget filled with measures his opposition could never support.

On Friday, Dion said his party will base their budget vote on whether three pivotal issues are dealt with which include economic competitiveness, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

"We will assess what to do with this budget when we will see it,'' Dion told the Canadian Press.

"We're only hoping that this budget will be everything that this last budget wasn't.''

With files from the Canadian Press