New poll good for Grits!

This is good news but remember it's early early days... .

Ignatieff boosts support for Liberals
Poll shows Grit seen as best leader to work with Obama, majority have negative view of PM
DANIEL LEBLANC

January 21, 2009

OTTAWA -- Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has quickly boosted popular support for his party and a possible coalition with the NDP, and is seen as the best leader to work with U.S. President Barack Obama, a new poll has found.

The Ekos/Globe and Mail poll suggests the Liberal Party is gaining momentum as economic concerns grow, with a majority of Canadians now holding a negative view of Conservative Leader and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Of the 1,000 respondents, 55 per cent disapproved of Mr. Harper's handling of his responsibilities, while 35 per cent offered their approval.

"That is a very bad number," Ekos president Frank Graves said of the disapproval rating. "That is getting up into [former U.S. president] George W. Bush numbers. Not quite, but 10 more points, and you're up to as bad as it gets for elected leaders."

Mr. Ignatieff, who has been leading the Liberal Party since Dec. 10, has the approval of 44 per cent of respondents and is seen negatively by only 21 per cent of them. However, the numbers show that many Canadians are still waiting to make up their minds about the new Liberal Leader, with 35 per cent of respondents refusing to offer an assessment.