EKOS confirms rise in support for New Democrats

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EKOS POLL RESULTS JUN 19

Neck and neck

Survey reveals no dramatic shift with one week left

NDP picks up strength with 20.5 per cent support

SUSAN DELACOURT

OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF

The election campaign has become a nail-biting tug-of-war, with a new Toronto Star poll showing the Liberals and Conservatives virtually tied heading into the final week.

It now seems to be either party's election to win or lose on June 28, and voters are shrugging off their old expectations.

The poll, conducted by EKOS Research Associates this week for the Star and La Presse, shows the Conservatives still with a narrow lead, with 31.4 per cent support of decided voters, while Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals are at 29 per cent. The survey's margin of error is 3.3 percentage points.

The NDP has picked up some strength, with 20.5 per cent, while the Bloc Québécois is at 14.2 per cent. The Green party has 4.3 per cent.

There are still about 6.6 per cent of voters undecided, EKOS said. That is down from about 12 per cent last week.

Last week's poll had the Tories at 33.8 per cent nationally, the Liberals 30 per cent and the NDP 18.9 per cent. The Bloc was at 12.3 per cent and the Greens 4.6 per cent.

None of the numbers represents a dramatic shift either way, for all the talk coming from all camps about momentum or big leaps forward after the leaders' TV debates on Monday and Tuesday. "A lot of voters seem somewhat underwhelmed by all choices," EKOS president Frank Graves said.

Well it is heartening to see EKOS confirm the SES CPAC polling results. This is great news for the Jack Layton New Democrats.