Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

MacKay In The Lead But Nearly Half Of Tories Undecided On Leadership: Poll

The Canadian Press, 04 Mar, 2020 08:30 PM

    OTTAWA - A high number of undecided voters in the ongoing Conservative leadership race suggests there's room for others to catch up to, and potentially beat, front-runner Peter MacKay, says the vice-president of the Leger polling firm.

     

    Leger's latest survey suggests MacKay remains at the head of the pack in the contest, with the support of 25 per cent of those polled overall, and 38 per cent of those who say they would vote Conservative in an election.

     

    In second place is Erin O'Toole, with four per cent support overall and nine per cent among people who'd vote for the party in a general election.

     

    Sixty-three per cent of those surveyed said they don't know whom they'd vote for, with 47 per cent of Conservative voters in that camp.

     

    That 47 per cent is the number that matters, said Leger's Christian Bourque.

     

    "The fact that the front-runner is not able to convince half of the people who say they would vote Conservative in the poll, to me says they are not sure about him or any of the other leadership candidates," Bourque said.

     

    "So at this point in time it doesn't mean there will not be a race and a tighter race than we are seeing now."

     

    Eight people are currently in the leadership contest, but only MacKay and O'Toole have paid the entire $300,000 entry fee and submitted all 3,000 required signatures, ensuring their names will be on the ballot.

     

    The remaining candidates have until March 25 to meet the requirements, otherwise they drop off the list.

     

    The survey of 1,540 Canadians was conducted online between Feb. 28 and Mar. 2 and cannot be assigned a margin of error because online polls are not considered truly random.

     

    During that time, one of the candidates whose name was floated to poll respondents as a potential choice was barred from entering the race. Outspoken social conservative Richard Decarie had met the first requirement to register — $25,000 and 1,000 signatures — but for reasons the party will not disclose, was not allowed to run.

     

    In the Leger survey, he had the support of two per cent of those polled overall, and one per cent among those who would vote Conservative.

     

    He had the same level of support as five other existing candidates — Rick Peterson, Marilyn Gladu, Leslyn Lewis, Derek Sloan and Rudy Husny. Less than one per cent of those polled support Jim Karahalios.

     

    The 47 per cent of voters who are undecided give candidates considerable room to build support, said Leger.

     

    "It's focusing on this other raft of Conservatives who have not yet made up their mind, and what they're about, who they are and what they want to hear," he said.

     

    Only party members are eligible to vote in the leadership race, and people must purchase a membership by April 17 in order to cast a ballot.

     

    The Tories are to elect a new leader on June 27.

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Seventh Case Of COVID-19 Diagnosed In B.C.

    VICTORIA - A seventh case of the novel coronavirus has been diagnosed in British Columbia.

    Seventh Case Of COVID-19 Diagnosed In B.C.

    B.C. Money Laundering Inquiry To Begin Amid Hopes For Answers, Accountability

    B.C. Money Laundering Inquiry To Begin Amid Hopes For Answers, Accountability
    VANCOUVER - British Columbia's attorney general hopes an inquiry into money laundering will answer lingering questions about how the criminal activity flourished in the province and identify those who allowed it to happen.    

    B.C. Money Laundering Inquiry To Begin Amid Hopes For Answers, Accountability

    Teck Withdraws Application For Frontier Mine, Citing Discourse Over Climate Change

    Teck Resources Ltd. has withdrawn its application for a massive oilsands mining project just days ahead of an expected government decision, citing the political discourse over climate change.

    Teck Withdraws Application For Frontier Mine, Citing Discourse Over Climate Change

    Witnesses Wanted: Single-Bike Crash On Fraser Highway Seriously Injures Male Rider, 29

    Witnesses Wanted: Single-Bike Crash On Fraser Highway Seriously Injures Male Rider, 29
    Surrey RCMP is investigating a collision involving a cyclist which occurred on February 18, 2020.

    Witnesses Wanted: Single-Bike Crash On Fraser Highway Seriously Injures Male Rider, 29

    Nearly Three People A Day Died From Illicit Drugs In 2019

    Nearly Three People A Day Died From Illicit Drugs In 2019
    As British Columbia approaches the four-year anniversary of the public health emergency related to illicit drug overdoses, the BC Coroners Service and partners are renewing calls for improved access to a regulated, safer drug supply in the province.

    Nearly Three People A Day Died From Illicit Drugs In 2019

    High-Risk Sex Offender Who Cut Off Electronic-monitoring Bracelet Arrested

    Olson, a 38-year-old, subject of a public warning on February 22, was wanted for Breach of his recognizance.

    High-Risk Sex Offender Who Cut Off Electronic-monitoring Bracelet Arrested