OTTAWA if you’re planning a day on the links, a backyard barbecue or a camping trip to the bush, perhaps Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s your guy.
A day at the museum? let Liberal Leader Stephane Dion be your guide.
Those are the findings of a poll by Decima Research that asked Canadians which of the two federal party leaders they’d choose as company for summertime fun.
The survey, provided exclusively to The Canadian Press, comes as Parliament begins a three-month summer break.
Harper, helped in no small part by the overwhelming support of Conservative-leaning respondents, was the preferred choice in four of five activities.
Planning a beer and barbecue bash? Forty-five per cent of respondents chose Harper as a guest, compared with 26 per cent for Dion.
For a round of golf, 44 per cent would rather tee off with the prime minister, compared with 24 per cent for Dion.
When it comes to camping and fishing, 40 per cent picked Harper and 27 per cent picked Dion. that one’s got to hurt the Liberal leader, an avid fly fisherman and cross-country skier.
Dion fared better in the more sedate summer pastimes.
Some 37 per cent said they’d prefer to read a book on the dock with Harper, compared with 31 per cent with Dion.
But as for a trip to the art gallery or museum, 40 per cent preferred Dion as a companion compared with 33 per cent for Harper.
Decima noted there’s a significant caveat in the poll results: those who like Harper, like him a lot. others, not so much.
Conservative supporters in the survey overwhelmingly preferred Harper in all five activities, with Dion managing only single digit support.
“While the news is generally more positive for Mr. Harper than Mr. Dion, the advantage for Mr. Harper is substantially based on the views of his own party’s supporters,” said the Decima release.
Self-identified Liberal supporters in the survey preferred Dion’s company in four of five activities _ although more chose Harper for a round of golf. And even for a backyard barbecue, a significant 39 per cent of Liberal backers would prefer the Conservative prime minister’s company, compared with 45 per cent who chose Dion.
NDP and Green party supporters preferred Dion in all five activities.
Bloc Quebecois backers, meanwhile, would camp and golf with Harper, could take or leave either leader for a barbecue or a day reading on the dock, but preferred a museum visit with Dion.
“Neither leader to date has made a strong positive connection with a majority of Canadians,” noted Decima CEO Bruce Anderson.
Harper, said the pollster, “needs to generate more positive feelings among the 70 per cent of Canadians who are not inclined to vote Conservative right now.”
As for Dion, “he is not disliked, but in order to draw voters towards him he needs to convey a more down-to-earth quality than he does right now,” said Anderson.
The survey of more than 1,000 respondents was conducted May 31 to June 4 and is considered accurate to within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.
Backyard BBQ – Harper Vs. Dion
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