The Glass is Half Full

The Globe and Mail, which is closely aligned with the Liberal Election Machine, is 'gleefully' reporting that a new poll shows that NDP supporters will shift votes to the Liberals to avoid a Conservative election victory.

But is it really true? Chuck the editorializing from this article and here is what you get. Just the facts m'am as Joe Friday would say.

The latest Decima Research online survey of 6,380 voters, released Sunday, suggests that half of those surveyed would like to see more New Democrats in the House of Commons. But when asked if they'd like to see more New Democrats elected, even if it means the Conservatives ultimately win power, support fell to 35 per cent.

Ok so half these folks will vote for the NDP and if the Liberals appear to be losing, then only then 15% of them 'may' abandon the NDP for the Liberals. That sounds like a gain for the NDP to me. They retain more than they lose. And if they begin to kick butt as Jack did today attacking strategic voting and the Liberals, well thats 15% to gain back. Seems to me like the glass is still half full not half empty.

What the Globe and Mail didn't say about the poll was this:

Nationwide, the poll found 52 per cent of respondents considered the prospect of a Liberal majority undesirable, while 25 per cent found it desirable and 23 per cent found it acceptable.

The results were almost identical for a Tory majority: 56 per cent found that prospect undesirable, 25 per cent desirable and 19 per cent acceptable.

A minority government, led by either party, was acceptable to more people.

Interestingly, the New Democratic Party scored very similar results to the two main contenders, even though the NDP is running a distant third in most opinion polls.

An NDP majority was considered undesirable to 56 per cent, acceptable to 26 per cent and desirable to 18 per cent. An NDP minority was deemed acceptable to 44 per cent, undesirable to 44 per cent and desirable to 12 per cent.


The poll also asked respondents whether a Conservative government would make matters better or worse in 15 different public policy areas. In every case a healthy majority _ ranging from 62 per cent to 85 per cent -- said the Tories would be better or no different than the Liberals.

Gee do I detect a Liberal bias at the Globe and Mail. Awww say it ain't so......

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Canada
Federal Election
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Strategic Voting
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polls
Liberals