Ottawa

Insta-poll: Advantage… Harper!

Ipsos again: Poll gives nod to Harper, with Layton second

Stephen Harper came out ahead of his political opponents in the English-language leaders debate Thursday night, but New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton was a formidable match for the prime minister, according to viewers who answered a survey during the broadcast.

The online Ipsos Reid poll conducted for Canwest News Service and Global National found 31 per cent of voters said Harper won the debate, and Layton was second with 25 per cent. In third place was the newcomer to the leaders’ debates, Green Leader Elizabeth May, with 17 per cent of respondents saying she was the winner, followed by the opposition leader, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, with 15 per cent.

Responses:

a) What about Duceppe?

b) The story isn’t that Harper won, it’s that Dion lost. Fourth place. Behind May.

c) Not that it will make much difference, I expect. As I said on the National, I think the debates have just locked in the status quo. The Conservatives are not going to get their majority, the Liberals are not going to win, the NDP is not going to replace the Liberals, and the Green party is here to stay.

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.