Unite the right divides Albertans on social media despite new poll

A new poll commissioned by a self-described Alberta super PAC that is pushing for a united right in the provincesays if the Wildrose and PCs merged, the new party would win the popular vote.

The online poll of 1,500 eligible Alberta voters found 52 per cent of respondents would vote for a merged PC-Wildroseparty if a provincial election were held today.

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Without the merged party, the vote distribution would be 31 per cent for theWildrose, 25 per cent for the NDP and 18 per cent for the PCs, according to the poll.

"People are angry.They're upset with what happened on the fifth of May lastyear," saidDave Rutherford, spokesperson fortheAlberta Prosperity Fund super PAC.

"If you split the common sense vote, you get the NDP," he said.

"The math is pretty clear. Mathematically, 60 per cent ofAlbertans didn't vote for the NDP," he told CBC's Alberta at Noon.

'The membership will drive the bus'

Rutherford said his organization is notoffering a definitive prescriptionfor unity under either the existing Wildrose or PC banner, but hopes that this will givecurrentparty leaders Brian Jean and RicMcIveran opportunity to begintheconversation.

"Grassroots members in each of the parties are way ahead of the leadership on this," Rutherfordsaid.

"If this works out as we anticipate over the next few months, the membership will drive the bus on this and tell them what they want to do."

Meanwhile, aseparate poll conducted by Angus Reid suggests that a faltering provincial economy and collapsing oil prices continue to take a toll on support for Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

It foundNotley'sapproval rating has slumped to 33 per cent, down 12 points from December and 20 points since June.

Twitter reacts

Rutherford's comments drew quick criticism on social media, with some sayingit would be disingenuous to merge the two parties unless their ideologiesalign.

Others attributed the NDP win to changing provincial circumstances and the NDP itself.