NB Power controversy helps PCs: poll

The NB Power sale controversy has given the Progressive Conservatives a jolt in public support, lifting them past the governing Liberals, a new poll suggests.

The Progressive Conservatives saw their popular support jump to 46 per cent in November up from 35 per cent in August in the latest quarterly poll by Corporate Research Associates.

Premier Shawn Graham's Liberals saw their support erode to 36 per cent from 41 per cent during the same period, the poll indicates.

After its popularity grew in August, the New Democratic Party saw its voter intention numbers sag in November. The NDP's support dropped to 14 per cent from 22 per cent, the poll suggests.

Meanwhile, the number of undecided votersis 42 per cent, according to the poll.

The polling firm sampled 416 New Brunswickers from Nov. 9 to Nov. 30. Themargin of error for the entire poll is 4.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error for thedecided voting numbers would be higher.

Despite the margin of error, PC MLA Paul Robichaud said the polling numbersreflect what they are hearingfrom people in their constituencies.

"The Liberals are going down and we are going up and this is the feeling that we are getting from our people and on the street," Robichaud said.

The Halifax-based polling company also found a significant softening in the support for the Graham government's performance.

The Graham government announced its contentious plan to sell NB Power to Hydro-Qubec two weeks before the polling company began to survey New Brunswickers.

Respondents mostly satisfied with the government dropped to 39 per cent from 48 per cent. Meanwhile, those who were mostly dissatisfied grew to 31 per cent from 24 per cent, andthose whoconsidered themselves completely dissatisfied rose to 20 per cent from 13 per cent.

Much like his party and government's support, Graham's personal popularity also took a hit.

Grahamwas considered the preferred choice for premier by 29 per cent of those polled, compared with 35 per cent in August.

Progressive Conservative Leader David Alward was also selected by 29 per cent of those polled, up from 21 per cent in August.