Nova Scotia Premier’s Personal Popularity Drops Significantly
HALIFAX: PC leader Rodney MacDonald’s personal popularity has declined significantly in the past three months, according to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. Specifically, MacDonald has the support of close to three in ten Nova Scotians (27%, down from 36% in the May 23 to June 4 period leading up to the 2006 provincial election). NDP leader Darrell Dexter has the backing of one-third (34%, unchanged) of residents, while support for the next leader of the Liberal Party is stable at 15 percent (compared with 13% who preferred Liberal leader Francis MacKenzie). Two in ten Nova Scotians (19%, up from 15% three months ago) are undecided in terms of leader preference, while the remainder prefer none of these leaders or name another person (4%, compared with 2%).
The PCs and NDP are in a virtual tie in terms of voter support. The ruling PCs (33%) and opposition NDP (35%) each have the support of approximately one-third of decided residents, while support for the Liberals stands at 24 percent. Eight percent of decided voters state they support none of these parties, do not plan to vote, or favour others, while the number of residents who are undecided or refuse to state a preference stands at 31 percent.
Backing for the NDP remains highest in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) (42%), with the Liberals performing best in Cape Breton (43%). The Conservatives, meanwhile, receive the highest level of support in mainland Nova Scotia outside of HRM (39%).
Looking at satisfaction with the overall performance of the PC government, six in ten (61%, up from 57% in May/June 2006) residents express satisfaction with the government, while close to three in ten (27%, up from 23%) are dissatisfied. Just over one in ten (13%, down from 20% three months ago) do not offer a definite opinion at this time.
These results are part of the CRA Atlantic Quarterly, an independent, quarterly survey of Atlantic Canadians, and are based on a sample of 815 adult Nova Scotians, conducted from August 10 to August 30, 2006, with results accurate to within (3.4 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.
For more information, please contact: Don Mills, President and CEO at (902) 722-3100.
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