NDP within striking distance of BC victory: Poll

It seems that the race in BC between the Liberals and NDP is much closer than expected. Carole James seems to be attracting woman voters as among women many more will vote NDP than Liberal. Even though the Liberals retain a lead in the polls the distribution of votes could still very well give the NDP a victory. The Liberals seem to be faltering somewhat at this stage.


The Vancouver Sun


A new poll puts NDP with easy striking distance of forming a government
By Vaughn Palmer 04-29-2009 View from the Ledge

With two weeks to go in the 2009 B.C. election, the New Democratic Party is within reach of an upset win, according to an opinion poll released Tuesday by Angus Reid Strategies. The pollster had it BC Liberals 42, NDP 39, a three point gap. Analysis of the B.C. election map suggests that the New Democrats could win a majority of the seats in the B.C. legislature even if they were two or three points behind in the popular vote, as happened in 1996. But not all of the findings in the poll were as encouraging for the New Democrats. Respondents said that Liberal leader Gordon Campbell was the best choice to manage the economy, by a three to one margin over Carole James. They also said that the economy was the number one concern. Campbell also had a decisive lead over James on the question of who would make the best premier -- 40 per cent to 25 per cent. So people are most worried about the economy, they think that Campbell is best able to manage it and he'd make the best premier. But they barely favour his Liberals over the James-led NDP. Earlier polls, by the riival Mustel Group and Ipsos Reid have found a larger, two-digit gap between the two main parties. But most observers have expected the race to tighten up. The other two pollsters are expected to weigh in with revised findings in another week. Then it will be on to the election to see which pollster was closest to the mark.



© 2008 Canwest Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.