The next Federal Election is aways off but this story is important -- especially the NDP strength in rural areas. Remember the NDP's roots -- a rural base is not implausible.
OTTAWA — A new poll suggests the New Democrats are widening their support across the country and gaining unprecedented favour in historically Conservative regions.
The Canadian Press Harris Decima survey indicates that the NDP have 34% of popular support, compared to 30% for the Conservatives.
With a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points, support for the two parties could be equally split.
Still, the poll indicates that the New Democrats have become competitive in traditional Tory areas.
Among rural Canadians, the poll suggests the New Democrats have 31% support, compared to 35% for the Tories.
The NDP appear to have the support of 36% of urban and suburban men, a number that has risen steadily since February.
4 comments:
Wouldn't it be funny if the Conservative's rabid hatred and (unfortunate) decimation of the Liberal Party (at least for the next couple of election cycles) resulted in a NDP (socialist) majority government.
Yes; interesting Anon1.
I have argued that as of the last election the Liberal's existence benefits the Tories. It is imperitive that the Tories keep some life in this rump to split the vote.
Chretien called an election very early on one occasion to keep the old PC's alive. They were within weeks of collapse (my opinion) at that time. It worked. The Libs sailed to victory with about the same kind of support that Harper has now.
Having said that the next election is years away and the polls now are almost meningless.
If in two years the polls stay similar then we have something of interest.
Although Harper has clearly shown that there is not a promise he isn't willing to break, I have a hard time imagining him breaking his fixed elections law. The last time he did it, he had the minority situation as cover. If he did it with a majority I think there might be fallout.
Anon 3; I wasn't suggesting that he'd break the fixed election date law (It makes me wonder if it can be ignored it shouldn't be a law in the first place.), I only mention it to note that political parties in the past have used weak parties to their advantage. It is not new.
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