CPAC-Nanos Daily Election Tracking CP 32, LP 28, NDP 22, BQ 10, GP 8 (ending October 10)

272 comments Latest by Bud the spud

As we enter the last weekend of the campaign,the Conservatives and the Liberals continue to be gripped in a close race. Of note, the Conservatives have been trending up in the last two nights in battleground Ontario. The Bloc retain a commanding lead in Quebec (22 points) while the Conservatives lead by 20 points in the West. Fluctuations continue to take place in Atlantic Canada where as of last evening the Liberals lead.

Stephen Harper’s downward slide on the best Prime Minister front continues and he is now at 29% (his lowest rating in the campaign thus far), although still ahead of Jack Layton by eight points.

We will be polling on Saturday and Sunday with our final election tracking poll released on Monday at 2 pm.

Tune in to Goldhawk Live with Dale Goldhawk tomorrow night at 7 pm (EST) on CPAC for a discussion of our latest polling results. For more detailed information on the methodology and the statistical results visit the Nanos Research website.

Methodology and Results A national random telephone survey is conducted nightly by Nanos Research throughout the campaign. Each evening a new group of 500 eligible voters is interviewed. The daily tracking figures are based on a three-day rolling sample comprised of 1,301 interviews. To update the tracking, a new day of interviewing is added and the oldest day dropped. The margin of accuracy is ±2.7%, 19 times out of 20 for 1,301 random interviews.

Note: for the final three days of the tracking Nanos Research will be interviewing 500 eligible voters per evening (up from 400 per evening). As a result the margin of accuracy for the final three-day rolling sample of 1,500 eligible voters will be ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

The numbers in parenthesis denote the change from the previous Nanos Research Survey completed on October 9, 2008.

Question: If a FEDERAL election were held today, could you please rank your top two current local voting preferences? (First ranked reported)

Committed Voters - Canada (N=1,071, MoE ± 3.0%, 19 times out of 20)

  • Conservative Party 32 (-1)
  • Liberal Party 28 (+1)
  • NDP 22 (NC)
  • BQ 10% (NC)
  • Green Party 8% (NC)
  • Undecided 18% (+1)

Question: Of the following individuals, who do you think would make the best Prime Minister? [Rotate] (N=1,301 MoE ± 2.7%, 19 times out of 20)

  • Conservative leader Stephen Harper 29% (-1)
  • NDP leader Jack Layton 21% (NC)
  • Liberal leader Stephane Dion 18% (NC)
  • Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe 5% (+1)
  • Green Party leader Elizabeth May 4% (-1)
  • None of them 8% (NC)
  • Unsure 16% (+1)

*Question: Which of the federal leaders would you best describe as:

  • The most trustworthy leader
  • The most competent leader
  • The leader with the best vision for Canada’s future

[Leadership Index Score - Daily roll-up of all three measures]

  • Stephen Harper 85 (+9)
  • Jack Layton 61 (-2)
  • Stephane Dion 48 (-2)
  • Elizabeth May 15 (-6)
  • Gilles Duceppe 11 (-5)

What do you think?

Cheers, NJN

Remember to rate the views of others - to allow us to recognize the opinion leaders in our national conversation.

Individuals with the top ratings make it to Nik’s Leaderboard

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The NDP and green numbers have stalled nationally and this could indicate the st... more

gohabs1 (Suspended for inappropriate post) (Ontario) 11 Oct 14:14

Hmmm... The weekend slump for the CPC again. I bet they're glad the election is ... more

Darryl (Ontario) 11 Oct 14:02

Gaining 3 points in Ontario (and 4 versus the liberals) and 1 in Atlantic Canada... more

Darryl (Ontario) 11 Oct 14:04

Some time after Nik's results are posted on Monday at 2 PM. I would love to see ... more

larryl (Ontario) 11 Oct 20:25

Harper named a conservative bagman as commissioner of the R.C.M.P. First time in... more

Mike (Québec) 11 Oct 21:24

I have no political affiliation. From a NL perspective there is absolutely no re... more

suedo (Newfoundland and Labrador) 11 Oct 21:26

Comments

Darryl

Hmmm... The weekend slump for the CPC again. I bet they're glad the election is on a Tuesday :)

[updated Sat Oct 11 14:02:21 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 14:02

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gohabs1 (Suspended for inappropriate post)

This is going right to the wire and the undecideds are going to make or break it for many seats.

The strategic voting patterns also won't kick in until after the polling stops and so we won't know the results until Tuesday night.

[updated Sat Oct 11 14:10:02 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 14:10

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gohabs1 (Suspended for inappropriate post)

The NDP and green numbers have stalled nationally and this could indicate the strategic shift is starting. I can now see a two to three point shift up in the Libs fortunes and the cons will likely go down a little because of their continued weak numbers in Quebec and a hoped for flattening out in out in southern Ontario

[updated Sat Oct 11 14:14:24 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 14:14

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Craig

I am very confused as to what Canadians want in a Prime Minister.

Far too often all I heard about politicians was that "they say anything to get elected" or "they're all just so fake".

But now we have a PM who is an admitted policy honk, he shows how much thought he puts into policy, he understands how things work, and he does what is best for the country in the long run. Yet now Canadian's main criticism of Harper is that he "doesn't show a lot of compassion" during this downturn.

Personally, I would rather have a PM that knew when and when not to take action and knew what he can and cannot do; rather than someone who cried on cue. And we have a PM like that. Recall in Harper's Christmas interviews how many times he forcast the downturn in the economy and outlined the steps he took to limit the hit. And note that this is happening all around the world. It is very ignorant to think that any one political party can reverse the hit in the middle of the crisis.

But it seems that is what Canadians want and think it is possible. It's not possible. Why else does Dion's approvals get somewhat higher while Harper's decreases. All Stephane Dion does is whine about "seniors losing their pensions" (I have never seen a more blatent cry for votes there) and then look like he is going to cry (especially during the debates). And Canadian's eat it up.

The PM notes the strengths in the Canadian economy, which are proven internationally, and he is vilified. It is an embarrassment that the Canadian people are this ignorant and act this way.

[updated Sat Oct 11 14:21:11 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 14:21

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gohabs1 (Suspended for inappropriate post)

Since Harper is now running completely on his own and his personal numbers are sinking I see a potential big hit to the cons come Eday. In any event it won't be decided until late in the evening BC time.

[updated Sat Oct 11 14:30:27 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 14:30

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MichaelFox

A 9 point swing from the NDP to the Liberals in the Atlantic in one day? Funny..

With people in a bad mood as a result of losing so much of their savings in the markets this month (including me), It's amazing if the Conservatives can put together a minority. Whether the market has a big day up or down day or Tuesday could literally swing the results 1-2 percent.

This is what I see happening right now, from East to west:
- The Liberals will sweep Newfoundland and PEI, with the exception of one NDP in NFLD.
- The Conservatives will lose a seat in NS, not including Bill Casey being re-elected. This could be offset by a gain of one in NB
- In Quebec, the Bloc will pick up seats from both the Conservatives and the Liberals. The NDP will hold their 1 seat. Andre Arthur will be re-elected as an independent.

- In Ontario, the Conservatives are where they were last election, but the Liberals are down. The CPC will pick up seats in the 519/905 area codes in ridings like Brant, Haldiman Norfolk, and possible in ridings like Halton, Oakville and Newmarket-Aurora. With the NDP will pick up seats in the North. Some Liberals, like Gerrard Kennedy, will probably hold on to win with these numbers. Net effect - Conservatives and NDP up, Liberals down.

Manitoba: 2 of the 3 Liberal ridings are in play. I'll split the difference and say it will go CPC 9(+1), NDP 3, Lib 2 (-1)

39 Conservative Seats in Saskatchewan/Alberta. Goodale holds Wascana for the Liberals. No NDP.

BC: I'm going to say will gain between 1 and 4 seats, and the NDP might take 1 or 2 extra, but I doubt it. The Liberals could be reduced to as few as 3 seats in Vancouver, but if their numbers from earlier this week hold they'll take 5-7.

The net result?
Conservatives - somewhere between 130 and 140
Liberals - between 80 and 90
Bloc - around 50
NDP - 30 to 35.
2 Independents.

[updated Sat Oct 11 14:50:38 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 14:50

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Rod_thumb Informed1

Conservatives seen winning election....

The Liberals have run a poor campaign, promising to introduce a carbon tax to cut greenhouse gas emissions and boost spending on anti-poverty programs.

The measure, to be twinned with cuts in corporate and income taxes, is designed to be revenue-neutral. Harper says the idea is a disaster and Liberal leader Stephane Dion -- whose native language is French -- has had difficulty explaining his complex proposals.

The Liberals are heading for their worst performance since 1984, when they captured just 40 seats. They now have 97.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/081011/canada/canada_us_politics_canada

[updated Sat Oct 11 16:49:10 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 16:49

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Mike

Hi Nik

It is an extremely tight race and completely baffling to anyone who follows politics with even a little bit of interest.

The leader of the Conservative party perjured himself while under cross-examination, he stated under oath about his knowledge of the million dollar bribe:
"What I do know is that this answer is not the answer to this question, I think there's been some editing in this question, so I don't think it goes from this question to this answer."
There is doubt about it, the tape is very clear and the expert hired by Steven Harper concluded that the tape had not been edited or altered in any way during that section of the tape. Although the conservatives are still leading in the poles, I predict Canadians will grasp the serious nature of the offence and vote him and his thugs out of office.

Harper is not fit to hold public office, let alone be “Our Prime Minister”

[updated Sat Oct 11 18:50:18 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 18:50

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suedo

Canada is one step closer to finding the PC party again. This is the reforms last kick.

[updated Sat Oct 11 19:58:21 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 19:58

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larryl

Some time after Nik's results are posted on Monday at 2 PM. I would love to see every one post their predictions on the results of the election. The contest he is running is based on the percentage of votes each party will get. No seat projections please. Do we have the courage to create a verifiable proof of our ability in forecasting what will happen. According to Ipsos Reid we can expect voter turn out to be between 70 and 90 % . Since there are only 308 seats too many could figure out how many each party will get but if we go with percentage to one decimal place the possibilities are huge and ties almost impossible. Let's see if we can have a little fun after all this one upmanship for the past month.

[updated Sat Oct 11 20:25:29 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 20:25

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gohabs1 (Suspended for inappropriate post)

The TO Star is now reporting that the cons are on the verge of a majority government:

Scary if its pollster is accurate.

[updated Sat Oct 11 20:28:32 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 20:28

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lbush

The national numbers are within the margin of error - I don't think anyone should feel confident.

[updated Sat Oct 11 20:41:54 EDT 2008]

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11 Oct 20:41

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DI-380

I'm joining late, but I don't see any mention of the Bruce Koenig report and don't have time to go through all the threads. Have you been discussing it?

[updated Sun Oct 12 00:08:00 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 00:08

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Savetemp_0_thumb John B

Harper says he'll quit if he doesn't win

Now that wouldn't be another lie would it ?

Lets find out

Fire Tubby

.

[updated Sun Oct 12 02:20:52 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 02:20

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Savetemp_0_thumb John B

A vote for the NDP is a vote for Steve Harper

NDP = No Down Payment ...

errily subprime asset baked paper sounding

Honest Stephane or Slippery Steve

The choice is clear

Volunteer, donate, Vote

We really can't afford Harper

.

[updated Sun Oct 12 03:54:03 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 03:54

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Savetemp_0_thumb John B

CVs: Dare to compare

The Honourable John McCallum PhD, PC, MP Liberal Member for Markham—Unionville

Bachelor of Arts Queens' College, Cambridge University,

a diplôme d'études supérieures from Université de Paris

Doctorate in economics from McGill University.

He was a professor of economics at the University of Manitoba from 1976 until 1978, Simon Fraser University from 1978 until 1982, Université du Québec à Montréal from 1982 until 1987, and McGill University from 1987 until 1994. He is an honourary member of the Royal Military College of Canada student #S139.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts at McGill University.

Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of the Royal Bank of Canada.

While the Cons offer:
Steve Harper - MA in economics and was a lecturer, not a professor

Flaherty, a lawyer specializing in accident claims (aka ambulance chaser)

Lets end the Harper/Flaherty accident before Canada becomes the next claim.

Don't be fooled, Harper is not the best to govern in troubled times

Dion has a Team

.

[updated Sun Oct 12 04:28:48 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 04:28

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Rod_thumb Informed1

Liberal desperation rearing its ugly head. The sky is falling!

Liberal partisans spamming themselves with multiple accounts.

ROFL

[updated Sun Oct 12 06:32:03 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 06:32

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watchingtosee

My prediction is on election day, liberal support will move up again to around 30%, and hold back the conservatives.

We need another minority government during these economic times. The last thing we need in Ontario is a majority government with an ideology basically the same as the republicans in the USA..

I think the wisdom of the crowds will vote for a minority government. It is the best thing for you as Canadians; whether you are a conservative, liberal, NDP etc....

[updated Sun Oct 12 08:59:10 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 08:59

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Rod_thumb Informed1

WHERE THEY ARE TODAY

Harper: Saint-Tite, Quebec City (Bloc/CPC battleground ridings)

Dion: Toronto, Norwood, Ottawa (Saving furniture again!)

Layton: Windsor, Essex, London, St. Thomas, Welland, Thorold, Hamilton, Guelph (battleground and Liberal/CPC seats!!!!)

Duceppe: Charlesbourg, Quebec City, Lévis (CPC battleground ridings)

May: New Glasgow, Westville, N.S. (trying to come in 2nd, NDP beats her)
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/516262
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[updated Sun Oct 12 10:05:06 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 10:05

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Savetemp_0_thumb John B

Nabobs of negativity blathering ad hominum "True facts" spoken by pipsqueak panders of puerile neo-conservatism

That is what Harper offers Canada

Why are we not comforted

Vote for leadership. Vote for a leader

Vote for a real Team

End Canada's nightmare

Vote Liberal.

Change for the better - building partnerships, not fattening partners

,

[updated Sun Oct 12 10:50:40 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 10:50

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Rod_thumb Informed1

Endorsements:

CPC

Globe & Mail
National Post
The Economist
Montreal Gazette
Ottawa Citizen
Winnipeg Free Press
Edmonton Journal
Calgary Herald
Windsor Star

Liberal

Toronto Star

http://www.stephentaylor.ca/2008/10/media-endorsements/

[updated Sun Oct 12 11:04:20 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 11:04

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Darryl

The Ottawa Citizen endorsed the CPC? I'm shocked!!!! They have always seemed to me to be the most liberal paper you can get. That's got to be a big smack in the face for the liberals.

[updated Sun Oct 12 11:32:22 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 11:32

Darryl

I think he missed one more for the Liberals though:

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[updated Sun Oct 12 11:33:01 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 11:33

Rod_thumb Informed1

CBC is too anti-american and Canadians are not benefitting from this bias broadcast.

List 10 Canadian produced shows in the CBC that we actually watch.

Challenge .....

[updated Sun Oct 12 11:36:41 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 11:36

Rod_thumb Informed1

I think it was just newspapers , funny site with great links.

Although I question the claim the Toronto Star as a real newspaper.

[updated Sun Oct 12 11:34:36 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 11:34

Mike

apposed 70% of Canadians

[updated Sun Oct 12 11:38:51 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 11:38

Darryl

72% of Canadians oppose the liberal party.

[updated Sun Oct 12 12:03:35 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 12:03

larryl

Darryl. You know very well they do not oppose the Liberal party or Liberal philosophy. They have been turned against Dion by unethical lies in their attack ads. We are learning the truth about Harper and the right wing agenda and hopefully we can stop him from doing more harm to our country.

[updated Sun Oct 12 12:20:36 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 12:20

Darryl

You guys all call the CPC so right wing but have you looked at their policies?

Compared to the right wing parties in the US, the CPC is almost a left wing party.

If you say that 70% (or currently 68%) of Canadians oppose the CPC then in an equal way, 72% of Canadian oppose the liberal party. Those are the facts.

[updated Sun Oct 12 12:56:56 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 12:56

wyly

you're right our cons appear to be more lib than american right wing nutters but that's only because Harper has gagged his minnons, Rob Anders is a prime example, this man would fit in with comfortably with the worst of the american nutjobs...he stays away from cameras, interviews and public forums, do nothing say nothing just collect your paycheque and shut up...when a party can comfortably keep a looney like Anders in their ranks the entire organization is suspect...the cons could easily replace him with someone qualified and they would be in no danger of losing the seat yet they keep him, that tells me there is support within the party for his views...this isn't an isolated situation, cons across the country are avoiding speaking at public forums so not to reveal themselves for what they really are, extreme nut jobs....this isn't the moderate PCP of past generations, a man like Anders would never have been tolerated in the Diefenbaker years

[updated Sun Oct 12 13:14:31 EDT 2008]

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12 Oct 13:14

Darryl

You do realize there are MP's in the liberal party that are in favor of many of the "far right wing" policies that people try to pin on the CPC. There are members of the liberal party that want to ban abortion and other such policies.

[updated Sun Oct 12 13:32:23 EDT 2008]

Reply to Comment

12 Oct 13:32

Rod_thumb Informed1

What Prime Minister is responsible for denying vote to Canadians?

What PM sent thousands of Canadians to internment camps claiming national security?

What PM is responsible for millions of dollars of assets built by Canadians sold without recompense?

You guess correctly if you said a Liberal PM to all above. So when it comes to Hidden Agenda's and destruction of Canadian rights and freedoms.

Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie sent Canadian citizens in the thousands and sold their businesses and assets citing national security.

Be afraid of a Liberal Government. They send us to wars and imprison their own citizens.

Sucks to be ignorant of your history my liberal children.

[updated Sun Oct 12 13:37:25 EDT 2008]

Reply to Comment

12 Oct 13:37

wyly

oh gee I guessed the Conservative PM Robert Borden War Measures Act of 1914-20 ;) interment of Ukrainian Austrian & German Canadians

spin it how you want in those both parties would have done the same in ww2

what war did the Liberals send us to???? in WW1 and 2 GB made that decision for us....

liberal PM St laurent was responsible for Korea

thankfully Harper wasn't in power earlier or we would still be Iraq

[updated Sun Oct 12 16:41:51 EDT 2008]

Reply to Comment

12 Oct 16:41

larryl

darryl. Nobody has examined their real polices since they have kept them from everyone including you. 70 % of the population is and always has been on the left of center . It has little to do with being for or against a party. It is about political ideology but both sides are bought and paid for at election time with our own money. How many CPC supporters would vote to abolish public health care or public education ? How many are in favour of toll roads or private police and fire protection services ? Should we abolish all social programs ? The extreme right would do all those things and abolish corporate taxes. Do you really know how far right the former head of the National Citizens Coalition really is ? With a majority government you will find out but you won't be able to do a thing to stop him. Do you think i believe what I say or am I just trying to frighten people to elect Dion ?

[updated Sun Oct 12 13:23:30 EDT 2008]

Reply to Comment

12 Oct 13:23

Rod_thumb Informed1

Pathetic Liberal Spin.

Ignore his track record call forth hidden agenda.

Deflect Dion track record of broken promises and lies.

[updated Sun Oct 12 13:29:34 EDT 2008]

Reply to Comment

12 Oct 13:29

larryl

Informed. You believe Harper runs the whole party. Dion was not the leader in past elections so you should apply the same reasoning and say Martin or Chretien was in complete control and Dion could do nothing without the leaders Ok. You don't do that do you ? You look at his track record which is not really his if we use your theory of the leader being responsible for his own record. Dion has not broken any promises as leader since he didn't make them before now. You have made up your mind that he will be just like his predecessors but have no proof of t