NDP ahead of Liberals for first time since 1996 (BC Provincial) canada.com

[Screaming Lord Byron]

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=13720aec-5aeb-48fa-8c12-4122027050dc

The provincial New Democratic Party has overtaken the B.C. Liberals in popular support for the first time since June 1996, according to a new Ipsos-Reid poll. And, according to the polling company, nothing short of a turnaround in the economy is likely to reverse the fortunes of the Liberals, who are facing an election in 14 months.

The poll, a copy of which was given to The Vancouver Sun in advance of its release, shows 42 per cent of decided voters in B.C. support the NDP, compared to 39 per cent for the Liberals and 12 per cent for the Green Party. Those results do not include the 20 per cent of those polled who said they were undecided or had no party preference.

Premier Gordon Campbell's personal approval rating fell to a new low at 34 per cent, down three points since December, with nearly five in 10 people saying they strongly disapprove of his efforts. Carole James, the new NDP leader, has 47-per-cent support.

-Has Gordon Campbell set a new record for biggest political advantage squandered in least amount of time?

[Minstrel Boy]

1. I'd say Campbell couldn't even get arrested,

but that would be a lie.



The Liberals are in the unenviable position of having increasingly unpopular governments in the three largest provinces: BC, Ontario and Quebec. In the coming federal election, Martin will need to contend with some backlash not of his own making.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

2. We saw how an unpopular Provincial government hamstrung the NDP

in BC in the 2000 election. History may well repeat itself.