Harper's leading - but not everywhere

A Globe and Mail/CTV poll says 46% of Canadians believe Stephen Harper is the best Conservative leadership candidiate, compared with 26% for Stronach and 17% for Clement.

The survey also says Harper's lead is overwhelming in B.C. and Alberta, but that Belinda leads in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Harper's biggest problem is his close identification with the Canadian Alliance - a party which dominated in the West, but simply is not trusted in this part of the country. If Harper wins, you know the Liberals are going to portray the merger as an Alliance takeover, and drag out the same old scare tactics they've used in the last three federal elections.

The big story is in Ontario: Harper has 36% support, compared with 26% for Stronach and 25% for Tony Clement. The Globe doesn't say how solid is each candidate's support, nor how many Ontarians are at least willing to consider voting for Harper in a general election. That's really the key issue.

Posted by damian at February 21, 2004 11:46 AM