Justin Trudeau’s Liberals solidify lead in new poll

[frigidmagi]

The Star

The battle lines for the next election could very well be taking shape as a new poll suggests Justin Trudeau’s Liberals have solidified their lead over the governing Conservatives.

Taken in the aftermath of last week’s four federal byelections, The Canadian Press/Harris-Decima survey indicates Liberal support is at 34 per cent, down slightly from the 37 per cent recorded the week before.

The Conservatives are hovering at a consistent 26 per cent, while New Democrats putter along at 24 per cent.
Pollster Allan Gregg says the latest numbers not only reinforce the split in byelection results last Monday, but demonstrate a significant shift is underway in terms of both the Conservatives and Liberals.

“What you have is two things happening at the same time,” said Gregg. “You have the Liberal core constituency is coming back to where they always were, and over the last year you’ve seen a fairly significant erosion of the Conservatives’ core constituency.”

He says traditional Liberals — the so-called professional class and women — are returning to the fold, while stalwart Conservatives — men and rural voters — appear to be wavering and expressing disappointment with the Harper government.

Gregg says some of the disenchantment might be related to the Senate spending scandal, but he says he believes the trend is more long-term and could lead into the next election in 2015.

Revelations of illegitimate expense claims, an RCMP investigation and allegations of a coverup in the prime minister’s office involving Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff Nigel Wright and ex-Conservative senator Mike Duffy have rocked the government on a daily basis since the spring.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau told CTV’s Question Period on Sunday “there’s reason to be optimistic” and that voters are connecting with his party’s message of support for the middle class and transparency in government.
The public is frustrated, but he cautioned there’s still a long way to go before the next election.

“What we have to be careful of is not to read too much into byelections (that are) two years away from any general election, but certainly we’re pleased with the kind of response we’re getting from right across the country,” Trudeau said.

Ironic that the conservative party came to power in a whether of liberal party scandals only to have a whether of scandals come boiling up. I suppose it's true that politicians like diapers need to be changed every so often.