BC NDP Strikes Again

Today renowned pothead Dana Larsen threw his hat into the BC NDP leadership race, the first candidate out of the gate.

Shades of Cheech and Chong were envisioned by BC NDP party president Moe Sihota as he attempted to derail Larsen's candidacy later today - "Up In Smoke" that is:

Of course, Larsen has had his own previous Cheech and Chong moments:

At the end of today, the BC NDP might want to choose a new party theme song:

Christy Clark for the BC Liberals and Mike Farnworth for the BC NDP

A new Angus Reid Strategies poll has been released with the following top line results (compared with an ARS poll from 2 weeks ago):

Liberal: 38% (+2%)
NDP: 38% (+2%)
Green: 12% (-2%)
Conservative: 7% (+1%)
Other/Ind.: 5% (-3%)

Status quo in the party preference standings.

Liberal Leadership Standings:

1. Christy Clark (as a "Good Choice"):
Voters Overall: 46% (+5%)
Liberal Voters: 66% (+15%)

2. Kevin Falcon:
Voters Overall: 28% (+1%)
Liberal Voters: 45% (+3%)

3. George Abbott:
Voters Overall: 25% (+1%)
Liberal Voters: 33% (-2%)

The current overall momentum in the Liberal leadership race is with Christy Clark.

NDP Leadership Standings:

1. Mike Farnworth (as a "Good Choice):
Voters Overall: 40% (+6%)
NDP Voters: 49% (+6%)

2. Adrian Dix:
Voters Overall: 24% (+2%)
NDP Voters: 37% (+4%)

The current overall momentum in the NDP leadership race is with Mike Farnworth.

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101222/bc_liberals_poll_101222/20101222?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

New Mustel Poll - BC Liberals Take 5% Lead Over BC NDP

Mustel completed its last opinion poll just after the resignation of Liberal leader Gordon Campbell. The party standings at that time were:

Liberal: 37%
NDP: 42%

Today's Mustel poll taken after the resignation of NDP leader Carole James shows the following:


Liberal: 41% (+4%)
NDP: 36% (-6%)

This opinion poll is the first taken since the May, 2009 election showing the Liberals in the lead over the NDP mainly as a result of the HST fiasco.

Pollster Evi Mustel has also confirmed to the Vancouver Sun the following:
________________________________________________________________

Mustel said the B.C. Liberal rebound is due to a move by female voters — the key swing demographic in provincial politics — away from the NDP.

The gender gap in B.C. politics, with women favouring the NDP and men backing the B.C. Liberals, no longer stands, said Mustel.

“Historically, when the B.C. Liberals are doing well in the polls they have the support of women, but when they start falling, it’s usually the women that go first.”

_________________________________________________________________

 

 

That's an impressive decline for the NDP in terms of the female vote and vice versa with the Liberals. And Evi Mustel provides some further insight into the current reversal of fortunes of both the Liberals and NDP:

__________________________________________________________________

Mustel said that Campbell’s resignation, the subsequent B.C. Liberal leadership race with two female candidates, plus the crisis over Carole James’ leadership, are probably the factors behind the marked erosion of NDP support among women.
__________________________________________________________________

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Liberals+have+five+point+lead+over+Mustel+poll/3984199/story.html#ixzz18FWNqXxp