NDP Pulls Even With Tories in Latest Poll

The outpouring of support for the NDP in the wake of Jack Layton's death has them polling at historic highs.

Today's poll of minimal value tells us that the federal NDP has pulled even with Stephen Harper's Conservatives with only four years to go before the next election. Both the Tories and the NDP polled at 33 per cent support in the Harris/Decima survey, with the Liberals sitting a ways behind at 21 per cent. Pollsters say the NDP's rise in support is likely (and unfortunately) due to the untimely passing of Jack Layton. The NDP has gained three percentage points since election night, while the Tories have lost a whopping seven points, which leads us to think that in addition to the outpouring of grief over Layton's death, either this poll is a bit of an aberration, or maybe, just maybe, Tony Clement's free-spending ways in the Muskokas has lost the Tories some of their credibility as being fiscally responsible. Whether this support for the NDP sticks around, though, is anyone's guess.

The Mark News reflects on what Jack Layton meant to a new generation of Canadians. Read our commentary here.