Ontario Election.
Jun 18, 2011 23:45:48 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Jun 18, 2011 23:45:48 GMT -5
You're next on the Conservative hit list McStupid. ;D
~~~~~~~~
By Bradley Bouzane
OTTAWA — Ontario appears poised for a changing of the guard when the next provincial election takes place, with a new poll suggesting the Progressive Conservatives have expanded their lead to unseat Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals.
According to the exclusive Ipsos Reid poll, the PCs — led by Tim Hudak — have the support of 40% of decided voters, up two points from the start of the year. The Liberals, meanwhile have dropped one point in that time and currently have the support of 34% of decided Ontarians.
Nelson Wiseman, a University of Toronto political scientist, said Sunday that while he expects similar findings in the all polls leading up to the Oct. 6 vote, he stresses the importance of the campaign itself and said that like last month’s federal elections, anything can happen, noting the NDP’s surge to become Official opposition.
“Surprises do happen and campaigns do matter,” Mr. Wiseman said. “Going into this election, you’d have to bet on the Conservatives and I’m confident they’ll continue to the lead the polls. During the campaign, I still think they’ve got the benefit, but if they shoot themselves in the foot, they’ll drop from first . . . It’s their election to lose.”
Although Mr. Hudak’s support trumps Mr. McGuinty’s in most regions of the province, the Greater Toronto Area remains very much up in the air four months before the provincial vote.
Some 38% of respondents from the GTA voiced support for Mr. Hudak, while 39% sided with Mr. McGuinty, who has served as premier since 2003.
The third-place party — the Andrea Horwath-led NDP — were favoured by 18% of those polled in the GTA and 20% of all voters surveyed in the province.
Mr. Wiseman said it’s likely many of the survey respondents are not fully aware of who Mr. McGuinty is up against in the upcoming election and said that with four months to go, marking a provincial ballot is not top of mind for most people in Ontario.
Once things kick into full gear, however, he said all regions are up for grabs, and a similar NDP surge on a provincial level could also happen.
“People right now are not focused on the provincial election,” he said. “Hudak’s visibility and profile will raise dramatically as the election comes. That will probably be to his benefit, although it could also hurt. It just depends on how the election unfolds” he added.
“I think, just as people don’t know Hudak, they also don’t know Andrea Horwath. When the election debates come, they’ll have two leaders who are fresh faces, who are going to be on an equal platform with the premier, who is not a fresh face. The thing to look for is . . . don’t be surprised if the NDP picks up in the election and we may have a minority.”
Mr. Hudak’s highest levels of support were found in eastern Ontario at 47% of decided voters compared to 31% for the Liberals.
Mr. McGuinty’s largest pocket of support was found in northern Ontario, with 37% support.
But Hudak is on his heels at 36% of support.
Mr. McGuinty’s lowest support levels were found in rural areas — with just 17% of those polled indicating the premier would get their vote — while Mr. Hudak boasts 45% of support in the same regions. Mr. Horwath placed second in rural areas, with 25% of voters swaying toward the NDP.
By age demographic, Mr. Hudak’s support climbed along with the respondents’ age group. His largest centre of support came from voters aged 55 and over — at 48%.
By contrast, Mr. McGuinty’s support had the opposite effect, with younger voters more likely to stay the same course with the current premier when the vote takes place on Oct. 6. As the age demographic increased, support for Mr. McGuinty dropped.
The Green party, led by Mike Schreiner, placed fourth according to the poll, accounting for about six% of voter support.
The telephone poll — conducted exclusively for Postmedia News, Global Television and NewsTalk 1010 — surveyed 802 eligible Ontario voters between May 17 and June 9. The results are considered accurate within 3.5%, 19 times out of 20.
~~~~~~~~
By Bradley Bouzane
OTTAWA — Ontario appears poised for a changing of the guard when the next provincial election takes place, with a new poll suggesting the Progressive Conservatives have expanded their lead to unseat Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals.
According to the exclusive Ipsos Reid poll, the PCs — led by Tim Hudak — have the support of 40% of decided voters, up two points from the start of the year. The Liberals, meanwhile have dropped one point in that time and currently have the support of 34% of decided Ontarians.
Nelson Wiseman, a University of Toronto political scientist, said Sunday that while he expects similar findings in the all polls leading up to the Oct. 6 vote, he stresses the importance of the campaign itself and said that like last month’s federal elections, anything can happen, noting the NDP’s surge to become Official opposition.
“Surprises do happen and campaigns do matter,” Mr. Wiseman said. “Going into this election, you’d have to bet on the Conservatives and I’m confident they’ll continue to the lead the polls. During the campaign, I still think they’ve got the benefit, but if they shoot themselves in the foot, they’ll drop from first . . . It’s their election to lose.”
Although Mr. Hudak’s support trumps Mr. McGuinty’s in most regions of the province, the Greater Toronto Area remains very much up in the air four months before the provincial vote.
Some 38% of respondents from the GTA voiced support for Mr. Hudak, while 39% sided with Mr. McGuinty, who has served as premier since 2003.
The third-place party — the Andrea Horwath-led NDP — were favoured by 18% of those polled in the GTA and 20% of all voters surveyed in the province.
Mr. Wiseman said it’s likely many of the survey respondents are not fully aware of who Mr. McGuinty is up against in the upcoming election and said that with four months to go, marking a provincial ballot is not top of mind for most people in Ontario.
Once things kick into full gear, however, he said all regions are up for grabs, and a similar NDP surge on a provincial level could also happen.
“People right now are not focused on the provincial election,” he said. “Hudak’s visibility and profile will raise dramatically as the election comes. That will probably be to his benefit, although it could also hurt. It just depends on how the election unfolds” he added.
“I think, just as people don’t know Hudak, they also don’t know Andrea Horwath. When the election debates come, they’ll have two leaders who are fresh faces, who are going to be on an equal platform with the premier, who is not a fresh face. The thing to look for is . . . don’t be surprised if the NDP picks up in the election and we may have a minority.”
Mr. Hudak’s highest levels of support were found in eastern Ontario at 47% of decided voters compared to 31% for the Liberals.
Mr. McGuinty’s largest pocket of support was found in northern Ontario, with 37% support.
But Hudak is on his heels at 36% of support.
Mr. McGuinty’s lowest support levels were found in rural areas — with just 17% of those polled indicating the premier would get their vote — while Mr. Hudak boasts 45% of support in the same regions. Mr. Horwath placed second in rural areas, with 25% of voters swaying toward the NDP.
By age demographic, Mr. Hudak’s support climbed along with the respondents’ age group. His largest centre of support came from voters aged 55 and over — at 48%.
By contrast, Mr. McGuinty’s support had the opposite effect, with younger voters more likely to stay the same course with the current premier when the vote takes place on Oct. 6. As the age demographic increased, support for Mr. McGuinty dropped.
The Green party, led by Mike Schreiner, placed fourth according to the poll, accounting for about six% of voter support.
The telephone poll — conducted exclusively for Postmedia News, Global Television and NewsTalk 1010 — surveyed 802 eligible Ontario voters between May 17 and June 9. The results are considered accurate within 3.5%, 19 times out of 20.
...but they should be noted. No? 
