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Six weeks until we mark a ballot in the federal election and the latest poll shows the Tories are losing support.
Whether it be the Syrian refugee crisis, the Duffy trial, or the fact Canada entered a technical recession in the first half of this year – the party lost five points compared to a month ago.
The party determined Toronto-Danforth candidate Tim Dutaud had made prank calls that involved making fake orgasms and Viagra, and mocked mentally disabled people in videos posted on YouTube. He was immediately booted from the running.
The other candidate, Jerry Bance, who works as a repairman, was nixed after hidden-camera video from CBC in 2012 showed him peeing in a homeowner’s coffee cup and pouring it down the sink while the homeowner was in the next room.
A statement from Bance released by the Conservative campaign Sunday night said he “deeply regrets” his actions from that day. He was removed from running in the east Toronto riding of Scarborough Rouge Park Monday.
Bance had previously run for the Conservatives in the Scarborough riding in 2008 and 2006 and lost both times.
Now, a new poll from Nanos Research released for the Globe and Mail and CTV shows the Harper Conservatives running in third place behind the Liberals and NDP at just 26.2 per cent support.
The Liberals are second at 30.8 per cent, while the NDP leads at 32.7 per cent.
The new numbers show a five-point drop for the Tories compared to polls from a month ago.
Looking at respondent’s preferred prime minister, the survey also shows a decline in Harper’s popularity.
In first was Tom Mulcair at 29.8 per cent, followed by Justin Trudeau at 28.2 per cent, and Harper in third at 25.5 per cent.
Conservative popularity has declined since they dropped the writ on August 2nd, making way for an 11-week campaign leading up to the October 19th election.
On top of Monday’s controversy, Harper’s Conservatives have also lost support over the Mike Duffy trial, the economy slipping into a recession, and their response to the Syrian refugee crisis.
Nanos says many voters are open to voting either NDP or Liberal, depending on who they perceive to be most likely to defeat a Conservative.
Agencies/Canadajournal
