Final polls show Wildrose party still leading in Alberta

While there has been a last minute attempt to persuade those in the center and the left to strategically vote for the Progressive Conservatives to keep out the scary further right Wildrose party there is little evidence it is working as far as polls are concerned. However, as the saying goes it is the final poll at the ballot box that counts.

The very latest polls can be found here at the CBC with a graph showing the historical trends as well. A poll by Leger on the 18th shows the following: Progressive Conservatives 36, Liberals 9 NDP(left) 10 and Wildrose 42. These are vote percentages.

The last poll I can find on April 20 shows: Progressive Conservatives 33, Liberals 11 NDP 11 and Wild Rose 41. There does not seem to be any shift to the Conservatives from the NDP or Liberals so the strategic voting campaign seems to be going nowhere.

For more details on the campaign and the positions of the parties see this CBC report.. Alberta is an oil rich province and has always elected various right wing governments in recent years. The province is dominated by oil interests but there is a great deal of ranching in some rural areas. It is perhaps seen as a sort of Texas north!

Alberta: Polls show Wildrose still ahead of PCs

The right wing Wildrose party is challenging the right wing Progressive Conservative Party in the Alberta election. The Progressive Conservatives have ruled Alberta for four decades!

The parties are both run by women leaders, Danielle Smith for the Wildrose and Alison Redford for the Progressive Conservatives. A poll taken on April 16th by Leger gives the following percentages for the main parties. Liberals 9 per cent, NDP(left) 10 per cent Progressive Conservatives 36 per cent and the Wildrose 42 per cent. See this site..

Seat projections go against the ruling Progressive Conservatives. On April 16th the projections were: Liberal 1, NDP 4, Progressive Conservatives 33, Wildrose 49. See this site.

The Wildrose party has had some problems with two candidates who have had to clarify remarks about race and homosexuality. Smith has tried hard to keep her candidates under control. At a recent leaders debate the Wildrose leader Danielle Smith was heckled the most.

Smith has suggested that the science of global warming is not settled. This brought howls from some in the audience. However the Alberta oil patch supporters may not find this offensive!

There seems to be a stop the Wildrose party campaign. There is even a website entitled: "I Never Thought I'd vote PC". Perhaps some Liberals and NDPers might vote strategically.We will see but the campaign may be a sign of desperation on the part of the Progressive Conservatives. The vote is next Monday. For more see this article.

Alberta election polls.

Recent polls are available at nodice.. There is another more recent Leger poll but here are the results of a recent Angus Reid poll:

Conservatives 42 per cent.
Liberals 31
Wild Rose Alliance 10
NDP 9
Green 8

Although the concentration of votes is importance the NDP Wild Rose Alliance and Greens do not seem likely to gain many seats. The Conservatives look safe enough all the Liberals apparently have some momentum.

Opinion polls Alberta provincial election.

Recent opinion polls of support for the main parties are at No Dice. The polls vary considerably but all show the Conservatives ahead by double digit margins. The Liberals are second and the NDP, Green Party, and Wild Rose Alliance trail with single digit support.