Winnipeg – Premier Gary Doer’s sudden retirement as leader of the Manitoba New Democratic Party has not affected the party’s popularity with Manitoba voters, a new Probe Research Inc./Winnipeg Free Press survey finds.

The provincial New Democrats remain the most popular party in the province, with 45 percent of Manitobans stating they would vote for the NDP in a hypothetical provincial election. For the NDP, which will choose a new leader October 17, this represents no change since the last sounding conducted in June 2009.

With the support of 38 percent of decided voters, the Hugh McFadyen-led PCs have increased their popularity by two percentage points and have shrunk the NDP’s advantage from eight percentage points to seven. The Liberals, meanwhile, remain far behind both parties, with just 12 percent of decided voters backing the party led by Jon Gerrard (-2% from June). Four percent of respondents would back other parties not represented in the Legislature, while 15 percent of voters were undecided.

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Labels: Gary Doer, Hugh McFadyen, Jon Gerrard, Manitoba Liberal Party, Manitoba politics, NDP, Probe Research, Progressive Conservative Party

Winnipeg, Manitoba – After nearly 10 years as premier, Gary Doer’s leadership continues to win praise from two-thirds of Manitoba adults, double the approval ratings given to Progressive Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen or Liberal leader Jon Gerrard. As well, the NDP now holds a ten-point lead in voter support, largely based on strong support from Winnipeg voters. Probe Research conducted this most recent random and representative sampling of 1,000 Manitoba adults for the Winnipeg Free Press between March 9th and March 25th, 2009.

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Labels: Gary Doer, Hugh McFadyen, Jon Gerrard, Manitoba Liberal Party, Manitoba politics, NDP, Probe Research, Progressive Conservative Party