Just a couple of days after calling an early snap election, Angus Reid has released some early polling data that looks absolutely abysmal for David Eby and the BC NDP.
Angus Reid also had some fun with the state of B.C. politics, calling the opposition the “now-newly-re-re-united right-of-centre movement.”
The data from Angus Reid shows that the Conservative Party has 43 per cent of support among B.C. voters, versus just 35 per cent for the NDP.
In response to his election call, there has been almost unanimous disapproval from residents, pundits, and opposition leaders, with many believing this snap election call, which was meant to take advantage of a Conservative Party that was falling apart, will backfire.
Municipal leaders, including Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, have particularly found issue with the snap election call, which will take place just one week after the civic elections do on Oct. 17.
“The reversal of fortune for the BC NDP has been swift: as recently as 10 days ago, the governing party had a slim four-point advantage over the Conservatives,” Angus Reid notes.
Angus Reid’s findings suggest that two-thirds of the province says it’s too soon to go to the polls. That includes 71 per cent of Conservative voters, but also a majority of BC NDP voters (52 per cent).
Another 65 per cent responded to Angus Reid, saying that Eby is putting his own interests ahead of the province’s in calling the election.
Many long-time BC NDP cabinet members have also dropped out entirely following the announcement, including Ravi Kahlon. The BC NDP did add an interesting candidate in former Global News legislative reporter Richard Zussman.
Not everyone is hopeful that the Conservative Party is fit to lead, with 56 per cent saying that the Conservative Party is not ready to govern.
“It is early days in the campaign, however, as underscored by the one-in-five who say they are undecided about their vote choice, and the fact that only 35 per cent say they are ‘very certain’ about which party they will support,” Angus Reid notes.
Another troubling reality for the BC NDP, according to Angus Reid, is that only 65 per cent of people who voted for the party two years ago say they’ll do the same, compared to 85 per cent of Conservative voters who “are ready to re-commit.”
While the Conservative Party might be in the lead according to this early data, Angus Reid notes that there’s uncertainty on both sides.
Angus Reid also pulled some data on what the most important issues are, and, in large, cost of living and inflation lead the way.
Angus Reid
Eby’s snap election announcement featured plenty of mentions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Given Eby’s speech announcing the election call, the Premier appears to be trying to strike while the tariff war is hot. The issue has played well for his personal popularity over the past 21 months,” Angus Reid states.
While these numbers are early, the election is literally exactly one month away, not leaving much time for Eby to reverse his fortunes.