HALIFAX, N.S. — A new poll reveals that Mayor Cecil Clarke is still the preferred candidate among those vying for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party — although his level of support has declined.
According to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc., two in 10 Nova Scotians (19 per cent, compared with 23 per cent in May 2018 and 26 per cent in February 2018) would most likely support the Cape Breton Regional Municipality mayor as premier of Nova Scotia.
One in 10 (10 per cent, compared with 13 per cent three months ago) would prefer Halifax Seaport Farmers Market executive director Julie Chaisson, and a similar number would most likely support Pictou East MLA Tim Houston (nine per cent, compared with 11 per cent three months ago).
Six per cent (compared with four per cent) of residents would prefer Kings North MLA John Lohr as premier and the same number (six per cent, compared with four per cent) would most likely support Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin.
One-third (32 per cent, compared with 34 per cent) of Nova Scotians do not know or do not have an opinion on the matter, while two in 10 (18 per cent, up from 10 per cent) do not prefer any of the five current candidates as Nova Scotia premier.
Across the region, residents in Cape Breton are more likely than those elsewhere in the region to prefer Clarke as Nova Scotia’s next premier, among the five candidates running for the PC leadership.
“Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke continues to be favoured in terms of public support among those indicating a preference for one of the five PC candidates vying for the leadership of the party,” Don Mills, chairman and CEO of Corporate Research Associates, said in a release. “Support for each candidate varies by geography across the province.”
The survey is part of the CRA Atlantic Quarterly, an independent, quarterly telephone survey of Atlantic Canadians, and is based on a telephone sample of 400 adult Nova Scotians conducted from Aug. 16 to Sept. 1, with overall results accurate to within plus/minus 4.9 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.
Corporate Research Associates is a public opinion and market research company founded in 1978.
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