Surge in support for NDP in B.C. swing ridings: poll

The danger of vote splitting is very real. If you will recall, one of the reasons the Conservatives were in the wilderness so long was because their vote was split between two Parties. On the other hand, note the striking drop in Conservative support -- down five full points. Also note the Greens are holding solid (and yes, I did notice, the Liberals are also down by two points.)


Surge in support for NDP in B.C. swing ridings: poll

The New Democrats have seen their support jump sharply in key battleground ridings in B.C., following recent campaign stops by Jack Layton in the province, according to a new Strategic Counsel poll.

The latest survey of 10 swing ridings in B.C., conducted from Sept. 7-9 for CTV and the Globe and Mail, shows the NDP gaining six points (percentage-point change from a Sept. 6-8 poll in brackets):

Conservatives: 36 per cent (-5)
New Democrats: 30 per cent (+6)
Liberals: 21 per cent (-2)
Green Party: 12 per cent (none)

In the past five days, the New Democrats have almost doubled their support in those 10 ridings. They started the campaign at just 17 per cent.

"There's a strong tradition of NDP support in British Columbia," the Strategic Counsel's Peter Donolo told CTV.ca on Wednesday. "What we're seeing is a strong revival among the traditional base -- lower-income women, and those with lower education."

Full story here:

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080907%2felection2008_080907