“An astonishing poll this week from Cameron Strategy in Calgary shows that undecided voters are now the largest group in Alberta (37%). The Stelmach Conservatives have dropped to 32%. That's down from 54% in January. Liberals, NDP, Greens and Alliance are all stalled. Highest place are the Liberals, unchanged at 16%. The Alberta Alliance remains at 5%, down from 9% in 2004 election.”
It is actually 30% undecided and 6% who will not vote at all in the polling figures I have seen,but that is a quibble. I wonder if Link remembered this pollster was also an able and key advisor to the Dr. Oberg PC leadership campaign. Speaking of Dr. Oberg, when is he going to release his donor list from the PC leadership campaign – what has it been 9 months? He is the last to do it. Remember Dr. Morton said he never would tell Albertans who bankrolled him.
As for the poll, it does not look good for those of us who believe in the leadership of Ed Stelmach. I have only seen the news release on the poll. I have not seen the questions or the data distribution so it is hard to really comment except in the most general of terms. We all know wording of questions can have an impact on outcomes.
It would be interesting to know how many phone calls in total were made in this poll before they got the 600 participants. Some indications are that as many as 15-20 calls have to be made these days before someone is prepared to take the time to answer pollster. The end result is the group participating is not as random as one might think because people self-select to participate and we can never tell what their motivations are.
Regardless of these technicalities, judging by these results, it sure looks like Albertans are disenchanted with politics these days. Stelmach is taking the brunt of this but there is little solace for the Taft Liberals or Mason's NDP, who Link notes are both “stalled.” The Alliance is in free fall too. That and "37%" undecided – maybe the Wildrose Party has some potential to be a force in the next election.
In the mean time the Wildrose Party need signatures to qualify as a political party for the next Alberta election and that is obviously Job 1 for them right now.
Neither Dave Hancock or Ed Stelmach has released all of their donors - they say that "donors who wish to remain confidential will remain confidiential" so don't go start using a double standard.
ReplyDeleteThe "rules" of the PC leadership - such as they were - did not require disclosure of donors. So nobody is breaking the "rules" however in an open and transparent democracy to accept anonymous donors brings up serious questions for sure.
ReplyDeleteAt least we know the size and number of anonymous donations in each "disclosing" candidates case and can pass judgment as to if we feel they may be unduly influenced by such contributors.
To not know anything about a candidate's donors is consistent with the "rules" but inconsistent with open, accountable and tranparent governance.
No double standard here - just disappointment in terms of disclosure all around...in some cases more disapponitment than others.
Isn't this the same pollster who said Oberg and Dinning were in a tie for the lead in the final days of the PC leadership? Makes you wonder doesn't it?
ReplyDelete