Mideast, Afghanistan underpin Conservative slip in polls

[tuvor]

(A lot of polls lately. Sorry if I've already posted these numbers.)

Norma Greenaway, CanWest News Service
Published: Monday, July 31, 2006

OTTAWA -- Support for Stephen Harper's Conservative government has dipped especially in the critical battlegrounds of Quebec, B.C. and Atlantic Canada likely pushed by discomfort with the prime minister's policies in Afghanistan and the Middle East, a new poll suggests.

The Ipsos Reid survey, conducted for CanWest newspapers and Global National, says national support for the Conservatives has dropped to 39 per cent, a decline of four points since May.

Pollster John Wright says the new data, including an approval rating of 60 per cent for Harper, suggests the party is still in good shape. The Conservatives, which won 36 per cent of the vote in the federal election in January, would, however, likely still be stuck in minority-government territory if an election were held now, he said.

The national tally puts the Conservatives well ahead of the Liberals at 27 per cent, and the NDP at 17 per cent. Both opposition parties got a bump of two points nationally since May.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=68958da6-4a40-4887-805e-d2057b99b80a&k=62697

[Spazito]

1. It is interesting how this article is written, it seems to me...

it is more than a "dip":

The drop was 12 points each in B.C. and Atlantic Canada, and six points in Quebec.

The latest Ipsos Reid poll on Afghanistan, released Saturday, says support for the Canadian deployment there has plummeted 10 points since March, and that a slim majority want the troops brought home.

"Foreign policy is now defining this government," Wright said, adding it has taken the focus away from the government's search for its next five priorities now that it has enjoyed some success on its first five.

"Now they know what the next five priorities are," Wright said. "They are called the Middle East and Afghanistan, the Middle East and Afghanistan, the Middle East andE"

Nothing in the poll results should encourage Harper to want an early election, Wright said. "I don't think there is anything in here that bodes for him going sooner unless he wants to make the foreign policy issue the priority," Wright said. "If that's the ballot question, his numbers in Quebec are not in great shape."


Gotta love the intent to minimize the damage, good old CanWest, always excusing harper and trying to protect his sorry ass.

[MrPrax]

2. Shows what a rookie he is...

also shows Harper has a level of loyalities that are exempt from political consdierations of gain.

The smart move for Harper would have been cautious in his support. The Liberals' support for Israel is the same as most Tories, but the Liberals were always smart enough to remember that sales maxim from GlenGarry Glen Ross:

"You want to learn the first rule you'd know if you ever spent a day in your life...you never open our mouth till you know what the shot is."

You'd think Harper being a slimey 'pretend' businessman would have known business liturgy...never expose your position until you are certain. Harper doesn't know what Israel is up to and might do, but he is on record anyway...total moron and unfit for high office.

[Spazito]

3. Agree, it actually has surprised me how much a political...

neophyte harper has been. Arrogance is one thing but even arrogance can't explain the BIG faux pas he has been making.

Given he is not new to the political scene by any means, he must live in a bubble where nothing that isn't a reflection of his own beliefs can penetrate.

[CHIMO]

10. Not My

View of his experience in politics.

He was first elected as a Reformer and then didn't run in the next election. I think that he didn't like the give and take of politics. Further, and this is my own impression, it seems to me that he thought that Manning wasn't didactic enough on principles and that some of the principles advanced by the party weren't radical enough. So after one term he retired and took a post that allowed him to be his radical self.

It was only the old Mulroney group that got him to power and they are waiting in the wings to take the party back with McKay.

So he has next to no political finesse without the cover of the spin doctors.

[daleo]

4. I don't believe the Conservatives were ever at 43 anyway

But at least there is admission of a drop in support here.

[Spazito]

5. The highest I had seen in the polls was 39, I don't recall ever seeing

them at 43, I wonder what poll and when CanWest found that number?

[tuvor]

6. Oh, good. I'm not the only one.

High-30s was the best I recall seeing them.

[Spazito]

7. I found the poll, the National Post, of course...

Tuesday, May 23, 2006
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government is so popular with Canadians that it would be swept back into power with a majority if an election was held now, a new poll has found.

The Ipsos Reid survey, conducted for CanWest newspapers and Global National, was done over three days last week just as Harper's Tories were touting their accomplishments after 100 days in office as a minority government.

snip

Currently, 43 per cent of Canadian voters support Harper's Conservatives, up by five percentage points since a mid-March Ipsos Reid poll.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=0cad14a6-eaed-457b-bbb9-3c252bbc355b&k=78274

Isn't it interesting, only polls commissioned by CanWest/Global/National Post and done by Ipsos-Reid come up with high numbers.......sheer coincidence I am sure :sarcasm:

[daleo]

8. No wonder nobody had heard of it

It was printed in a paper nobody reads. I guess that is where they bury their biggest whoppers.

[Spazito]

9. LOL, too true n/t