PCs pull ahead of Liberals in CRA poll

A February poll says the governing Liberal Party in Newfoundland and Labradorhas dropped behind the Progressive Conservatives in terms of public support for the first time in nine months.

In the pollby Corporate Research Associates,39 per cent of people surveyed said they backed the PCs, up from 34 per cent in November.

That compared to a sharp drop in support for the Liberals. The poll showed that 33 per cent supported that party, compared to 42 per cent in the last poll.

The New Democratic Party also picked up support, going to 26 per cent, upfrom 23 per cent.

One quarter of the people surveyed were undecided, compared with 28 per cent in November. Another five per cent of people surveyed likednone of the parties or were disinclined to vote.

Ball slips to No. 3

PC leader Paul Davis continues to be in front as the preferred choice for leader, although he slipped from 35 per cent to 33 per cent.

Premier Dwight Ball dropped to 21 per cent from 27 per cent three months ago. The NDP's Earle McCurdyis at 23 per cent, up from 17 per cent in November.

Nine per cent had no opinion.

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Seven in 10 people surveyed said they were unhappy with the performance of the Liberal government 71 per cent compared with 59 per cent three months ago.

Two per cent had no opinion, compared with six per cent in November.

The poll is part of the CRA Atlantic Quarterly, and sampled 402 adult Newfoundland and Labrador residents between Feb. 2 and Feb. 28. Results are considered accurate within 4.9 percentage points, 95 times out of 100.