Gap narrows between NDP and Liberals post-debate: new poll

The gap is narrowing between the BC Liberals and the NDP since the leaders’ debate, according to a new poll.

The Ipsos Reid poll conducted exclusively for Global News shows that in the days following the debate, the race has tightened.

The NDP lead among decided voters has fallen to 10 points today from 19 points at the start of the campaign.

In addition, Dix’s lead as the “best Premier” has fallen from 13 points to just three points today.

The NDP continues to have a sizable lead in voter support over the Liberals, but it has declined considerably since the start of the campaign.

Dix and the NDP currently have the support of 45 per cent of decided voters, which is down three points.

Christy Clark and the BC Liberals are at 35 per cent support, an increase of six points from the start of the campaign.

Pollsters at Ipsos Reid say that the increase in Liberal support has come from the BC Conservatives, who have seen their support drop four points since the start of the campaign.

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Green Party support remains stable at 10 per cent, up one point from the start of the campaign.

The NDP lead has narrowed in all regions of the province since the start of the campaign.

Dix has an eight point lead, down from 15 in Metro Vancouver; a 20 point lead, down from 28 on Vancouver Island; and a nine point lead, down from 21 in the Southern Interior/North.

The gender gap has also narrowed. The NDP now has a 20 point lead, down from 31, among women. 50 per cent of women plan to vote for the NDP, compared to 30 per cent for the BC Liberals.

As indicated in previous polls, it appears most British Columbians have made up their mind about who to vote for.

Only 15 per cent of decided voters say there is a good chance they will change their mind and vote for another party’s candidate in the election.

Christy Clark has made big gains with voters on the question of which leader would make the best Premier.

31 per cent of people say Clark would make the best Premier, which is up eight points since the start of the campaign.

Dix still has the lead at 34 per cent, a drop of two points.

Pollsters say some of Clark’s gains have come from those who had no opinion at the start of the campaign. 20 per cent are now undecided on who would make the best Premier, down from 27 per cent at the start of the campaign.

Eight per cent of people think Green Party leader Jane Sterk would make the best Premier, up from four per cent. BC Conservatives leader John Cummins is down three points to seven per cent.

Ipsos Reid surveyed 1,000 adult British Columbians online between April 30 and May 2, 2013.

The poll is accurate to within +/- 3.5 percentage points had all British Columbia adults been surveyed, according to Ipsos Reid.

To view the PDF release, click here.