First, to state the obvious, the NDP strength in the St. John’s area is the main story with 48% of those polled indicating support for that Party, if an election were called, against 35% for the Tories and 16% for the Liberals. A three way split greets the Tories in the rural areas, giving them a slim lead (37%), against 34% for the Liberals and 28% for the NDP. On a province wide basis the Tories and the NDP are in a statistical dead heat with 36% indicating support for the PCs, 35% NDP and 28% Liberal.
As to which leader
would make the best Premier, Dwight Ball is a washout in St. John’s (12%)
against 37% for Premier Dunderdale and 51% for Lorraine Michael. In rural
districts, Dunderdale is on top with 51%, followed by Ball 30% and Michael 19%.
The numbers,
should they stay the same or deteriorate further, suggest the Government is in
trouble, Dwight Ball is in a tough spot (even if the Liberals’ rural roots are
still strong) and the NDP is the real challenge to the current leadership. The
Government’s advantage, chiefly, is that it is still early in the mandate.
