- Confidence In Harper Hits Rock Bottom

Posted: 10:49 AM on October 26, 2010
Auditor scrutinizes stimulus as poll shows increased economic anxiety, Jane Taber, Globe and Mail, October 26, 2010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/auditor-scrutinizes-stimulus-as-poll-shows-increased-economic-anxiety/article1773025/

Confidence in Stephen Harper’s ability to do the right thing to help the economy plummeted this month, with a third of respondents (33%, -9 since August)

Also,
Respondents choose the Conservative Party over the Liberal Party:
- to rein in national debt (31% to 23%),
- end the recession (32% to 20%),
- control inflation (32% to 20%).
- job creation (Con. 30%, Lib. 29%).

This poll is actually more significant when you take into account that Harper and the Con's have a core of die-hard, right-wing, extremist supporters of 33% (with epi-centre in Alberta) who will support Harper pretty much no matter what, almost.


In other words, this poll, as far as Harper and the Con's are concerned run pretty much exactly along partizan lines. This partizan support skews, of course, any such poll since they are likely to answer in support of Harper and the Con's - if anything this poll indicates that perhaps (still within the margin of error: 3.1%) job's is one area they (are not and the indications are there are a few other areas as well).

What this poll means is that the vast majority of Canadians (not die-hard supporters of Harper and the Con's) did not support Harper and the Con's in these areas pretty much to a person.

The most significant aspect of this poll is:"

the proportion of undecided respondents on this question - people who are unwilling to endorse either one of the major parties - is close to 50 per cent in three of the indicators." ( angus-reid)

They may not be coming down on the side of Ignatieff and the Liberals, but at least they are open minded about it. An interesting question is of these 50%, do they respond to emotional, ideologically based rhetoric or are they looking for cold hard facts presented in a rational fashion.

Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html