The NDP leadership race is a nail-biter. But is anyone paying attention?

The NDP leadership race could be turning into a nail-biter with no clear winner in sight. But it's unclear if Canadians are tuning in.

The field of candidates now has three front-runners, several NDP strategists and analysts tell CBC News.

Weeks before the critical membership sign-up deadline of Jan. 28, the outcome remains unpredictable, with no particular candidate having a sure path to victory and all showing signs of momentum.

"It is way too early to call it," said Ji Won Jung, an NDP organizer with the party's grassroots movement Reclaim Canada's NDP. "There's a lot of room for volatility."

When New Democrats select their leader in March at a national convention in Winnipeg, five candidates are expected to be on the ballot.

But according to party insiders, three are likely bets to become leader: Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis and Rob Ashton.

That wasn't the case in the early days of the race in September. 

"Many folks would have assumed this would be somewhat of a coronation for McPherson because she's the only sitting MP running," longtime NDP strategist Erin Morrison said.

Much of McPherson's campaign has been about presenting her as a stable leader with a proven track record of getting elected and taking on Conservatives in Alberta. Many within the party consider her the establishment candidate, backed by staffers who worked previously for leaders like Jack Layton and Jagmeet Singh.

McPherson, like the other candidates, is in a final push to sign up as many members as possible. The NDP's one-member, one-vote system makes signing up new members and getting lapsed members to renew critical.

McPherson's event schedule points to a ground game concentrated in Prairie provinces, particularly Alberta.

The province represents a sizable membership base for New Democrats.

According to some NDP insiders, Alberta, in particular, could have an outsize influence in the race, since provincial New Democrats can easily become members of the federal party.

This could give McPherson, an Edmonton MP who earned the endorsement of former Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley, the upper hand.