A new poll from Mainstreet Research shows that Manitobans aren’t happy with the current slate of political party leaders. The poll surveyed over 800 Manitobans for their views of the four provincial party leaders and who they’re planning to vote for, with no party leader receiving a positive rating.
Overall, the polls show the Progressive Conservatives (PCs) in the lead in the overall ratings, but the gap between them and the second-ranked NDP is shrinking from the last set of Mainstreet provincial polls released in March.
The PCs have the support of 42.5 per cent of “decided and leaning voters” polled, down by 2.3 per cent from March, while the NDP sit at 34.7 per cent, up 2.6 per cent from March. The Manitoba Liberal Party, led by Dougald Lamont, sit at 13.1 per cent, down by 1.2 per cent from March, while the Green Party of Manitoba and leader James Beddome have enjoyed the biggest bump, climbing by 2.9 per cent to 9.6.
In the favourability ratings, NDP leader Wab Kinew finished with a higher rating in the minds of Manitobans, but is still listed in the negatives. Kinew has a net favorability rating of -6 per cent, with PC leader Brian Pallister sitting at -15.
“The level of support for both the NDP and the Conservatives is roughly the same as it was since the last time we polled in March, although the NDP is doing somewhat better,” said Quito Maggi, president and CEO of Mainstreet Research in a report released along with the statistics Thursday.
“That said, Brian Pallister has the advantage at this stage in the election and would likely win if the vote were held today.”
The polls also show the NDP are leading in the provincial capital. They currently have a projected 5.5 per cent advantage in Winnipeg, according to Mainstreet’s polls. Winnipeg is home to 32 of the 57 seats in the Manitoba Legislature.
Mainstreet said their poll is accurate 19/20 times, with a margin of error of three per cent.
Manitobans will head to the polls on Sept. 10, with Flin Flon residents either marking their ballots for NDP incumbent Tom Lindsey, PC candidate Theresa Wride, Liberal James Lindsay or the Greens’ Saara Murnick. The NDP have won each provincial election in the Flin Flon riding since 1969.
