Party maintains the upper hand over the long-governing Progressive Conservatives.
Public support for the opposition Wildrose Alliance Party has increased at the start of the year in Alberta, clearly surpassing the ruling Progressive Conservatives, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative provincial sample of 1,000 Alberta adults, 42 per cent of decided voters (+3 since December 2009) say they would support the Wildrose Alliance candidate in their constituency if a provincial election were held tomorrow.
The governing Progressive Conservatives are second with 27 per cent (+2), followed by the opposition Liberal Party with 19 per cent (-6), and the New Democratic Party (NDP) with nine per cent (=).
Demographics
As was the case in December, the Wildrose Alliance leads in all areas of the province, and holds a 14-point lead over the PC in Rural Alberta (43% to 29%). In Edmonton, the opposition party is ahead with 35 per cent, with the Liberals (27%) and Progressive Conservatives (25%) battling for second place. In Calgary, decided voters prefer the Wildrose Alliance over the Progressive Conservatives by a 2-to-1 margin (48% to 25%).
Middle-aged Albertans (48%) and respondents who live in households with a yearly income of more than $100,000 (48%) are the main core groups of support for the Wildrose Alliance, along with respondents over the age of 55 (44%). Younger Albertans now give the Wildrose Alliance a three-point edge over the Progressive Conservatives (31% to 28%).
While at least two-in-five men (44%) and women (41%) are ready to vote for the Wildrose Alliance, the Progressive Conservatives are attracting three-in-ten female voters (30%) and one-in-five male voters (24%).
Analysis
The Progressive Conservatives are still hurting after a difficult economic year and a budget that sought to strike the balance between fiscal discipline and spending. On the bright side, their support has grown slightly since December. Still, the Wildrose Alliance is now backed by two-in-five decided voters, and is gaining on the one demographic that appeared difficult to conquer just a few weeks ago: young voters.
The current numbers suggest that the opposition party may be ready to become a major player in the next provincial election as it closes to majority support in Calgary, home to 23 of the 83 seats at stake.
These findings are part of The Angus Reid Report, the most comprehensive public opinion report ever developed in Canada.
To learn more about The Angus Reid Report, click here.
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
CONTACT:
Hamish Marshall, Research Director, Public Affairs
+604 647 1987
hamish.marshall@angus-reid.com
