Strategic Counsel: Rae would do best against Harper

[gerryhatrick]

Rae would do best against Harper, poll says

OTTAWA — Former Ontario premier Bob Rae would be the best potential prime minister the Liberals could choose to take on Stephen Harper, says a new poll on national politics.

Although Mr. Harper is seen as the best prime minister when put up against any of the four leading contenders for the Liberal mantle, it is Mr. Rae who would make the greatest mark against him, according to the survey by The Strategic Counsel for the Globe and Mail-CTV News.

snip

Perhaps most interestingly, criticisms that Mr. Rae would do worse in Ontario than his counterparts appear to be at least somewhat checked by the poll, which shows that 29 per cent of Ontarians believe Mr. Rae would be the best prime minister, well higher than the 22 per cent who picked Mr. Ignatieff and the 20 and 21 per cent, respectively, who picked Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Dion, respectively.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...8/BNStory/Front

I think he's shown a level-headedness and toughness during this leadership race.

This poll shows that whining about ancient history "Rae days" and other supposed Ontario grudges just don't hold true.

And his skinny dipping with Rick Mercer was brilliant! Wonder if that was before or after the poll....

[cybercoma]

Mr. Harper is seen as the best prime minister when put up against any of the four leading contenders for the Liberal mantle

You forgot to bold that part, gerry.

[August1991]

Gerry, I had put you down as an NDP-type. Does this mean that Rae could get you to cross over to the Dark Side?

[Ricki Bobbi]

I think he's shown a level-headedness and toughness during this leadership race.

This poll shows that whining about ancient history "Rae days" and other supposed Ontario grudges just don't hold true.

And his skinny dipping with Rick Mercer was brilliant! Wonder if that was before or after the poll....

We actually agree for once?

I've said it many times before. Rae is the only candidate in the leadership race who can beat Harper. The majority of Ontarians will hold Rae's time as PM against. But they don't need a majority of votes in Ontario to get a majority of seats there.

Chretien won 101 of the 103 seats in Ontario with a little less than 50% of the vote in 1997.

The poll is actually good news for the Conservatives. Rae will becaome the focus of attacks from the other leadership candidates. Maybe it becomes Anybody But Bob instead of Anybody But Iggy on the convention floor. Hopefully!

[gerryhatrick]

You forgot to bold that part, gerry.

I didn't forget. It wasn't the most interesting fact in my view, and it wasn't related to my post sub-text.

[gerryhatrick]

Gerry, I had put you down as an NDP-type. Does this mean that Rae could get you to cross over to the Dark Side?

I've voted Liberal in the past. I even voted PC before. Never have voted for the CPC, and until they undergo a transformation by wringing out the far-rightwingers they're currently infested with I can't see myself voting for them.

edit: what I've seen of Rae so far I like. I'm not wild about Layton, but if Iggy got the leadership it would be hard not to go NDP.

[Guest Warwick Green]

Harold Wilson said that a week is an eternity in politics. We are talking about an election that will be held at the earliest in the Spring. Who knows what will happen over the next six months.

One thing - if the body bags from Afghanistan escalate it'll be tough on Harper.

At one time I thought Iggy would make a much better candidate. Not now. They will go with Rae.