New poll shows NDP with double-digit lead week before B.C. election

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — With just over a week to go until election day, it looks like BC NDP Leader John Horgan’s gamble to call a snap vote may pay off in the end.

An Angus Reid Institute poll puts Horgan’s NDP out in front with 49 per cent support following Tuesday’s televised debate, followed by the BC Liberals at 33 per cent, and the BC Green Party with 14 per cent.

However, Green Leader Sonia Furstenau’s performance in the debate turned heads, as the party is the most common second choice among undecided voters.

“So if you’re NDP, if you’re voting Liberal, the Greens are a common second choice for both of those vote bases,” said Angus Reid Institute president Shachi Kurl, who moderated the debate.

With only half of BC voters saying they’ve made up their mind, second choice party could be a factor heading into the final week of the campaign: https://t.co/JA2hDdfk27 pic.twitter.com/GUUIiAQdjj

— Angus Reid Institute (@angusreidorg) October 16, 2020

“It has been a campaign that has really been marked for the BC Liberals really trying to get back onto the message they want to be talking about, but finding themselves pulled back and having to deal with reacting to crises,” she added

“Green voters are the least certain, the least locked in, the most likely to say they might change their mind and vote for another party. On the other hand, the Green Party is almost universally the second choice.”

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Among those who saw the debate or read about it and watched clips afterward, Horgan was chosen as having performed best by the largest number — 29 per cent.

Furstenau was seen as best by 23 per cent, while 15 per cent chose Wilkinson.

Horgan continues to be most appealing to voters. More than half of potential voters view Horgan this way (54 per cent), compared to 46 per cent for Furstenau, and just 24 per cent for Wilkinson.

As the province enters this last week of the campaign, voters are motivated equally by blocking the party they dislike (52 per cent) versus one they truly support (48 per cent).

The poll surveyed 800 potential voters and was done on Wednesday and Thursday.