British Columbians are ready for Premier Gordon Campbell to go, but a recent Angus Reid Strategies poll was also discouraging for any of the politicians who might like to replace him.
Seventy percent of respondents disapproved of Campbell's performance and seventy-five percent opposed him running again in 2013.
But that did not translate to support for Carole James. Just 29 percent said they approved of her performance while 45 percent disapproved.
And asked about list of 15 possible successors to Campbell, Surrey Mayor Diane Watts fared best, followed by radio host and former Liberal MLA Christy Clark, NDP MLA Mike Farnworth, Attorney General Mike de Jong and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.
Rounding out the bottom of the list were Transportation Minister Shirley Bond, Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman, Environment Minister Barry Penner and Health Minister Kevin Falcon.
The poll results, released Sept. 5, gave 45 percent support to the NDP, 31 percent to the Liberals, 11 percent to the B.C. Green Party and seven percent to the Conservatives. The firm conducted the online poll of 783 British Columbians between Sept. 1 and Sept. 3. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percent, 19 times out of 20.
Only 50 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the May 12 election. A recently released Elections B.C. survey found 34 percent said a change of political parties would make them more likely to vote in the next election.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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morechatter
2 years ago
Rich Coleman is Campbells side kick
As one in the same as he is the one with the axe and is no better than the much disliked premier.
Let the fat man die, a slow and painfull political career as he doles out last years candy to hungry kids, for a price.
Hardly a winner.
Hermans Hermit
2 years ago
Same Old... Same Old
Only 18% approval for Scampbell's performance yet only 29% approve of whiney James performance.
Those extremely lacklustre numbers do not make for political victory.
So there you go folks, a perfect storm for a new middle-of-the-road party to take up the political vacuum ... those 50% who did not vote in the electon as well as 50% of both current NDP and Lib voters of the non-loony left/right kind.
If that does not happen, then look at the poll's "who would make best premier of BC" question.
Surrey mayor Dianne Watts creams them all with a +14 net score. James comes in with a -13 net score. That's a 27 point differential.
Scampbell steps down in 2011, Watts takes over the Libs and the Libs go on to win in 2013. You read it here first.
Viva La BC Visionistas!
Van Isle
2 years ago
Again, polls mean
Again, polls mean diddly-squat in between elections. We all can stamp our little feet, hold our breath and turn blue; it won't change a thing. The incompetent Liberals have got themselves into a box and they have only one way to get out of it. It's amazing that the mass-media didn't report Hansens speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade, bragging about the corporate tax cuts in their new budget.
Frank
2 years ago
Hermans Hermit
I didn't see a lot of support for Vision BC in the poll, did you?
"Those extremely lacklustre numbers do not make for political victory."
Actually, in the case of the NDP's numbers, they do.
freebear
2 years ago
CEO would be fired in private sector!
So much for increased MLA salaries drawing 'better' candidates!
freebear
2 years ago
When I run...
I will change my names to:
None, of the Above
I'll probably win even without a campaign!
Skywalker
2 years ago
Noneof Theabove
It might work. It has a nice ring to it.
There is likely a problem for both parties. People are hard pressed to come up with a name of anyone on either side that inspires or captivates the imagination.
The Blackbird
2 years ago
I challenged Gordo to 5 rounds in the octagon a week ago and ...
he STILL hasn't got back to me.
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2009/08/31/TorinoOlympics/
Loser.
Now I dislike him even more.
circle A
2 years ago
I have`nt the time of day
for the dispicable ,sleazy corporate lackey that is campbell and that also applies to any fool or greedy toady that would support the soul sucking sell-out regime he is part of.
Dan the socialist
2 years ago
But in 4 years most of all
But in 4 years most of all this hub bub about Campbell and Hansen lying about the deficit, the HST, BC Rail will all be forgotten and forgiven, especially if Libs have a new leader.
If Carole insists on running in 2013 and Diane Watts is leading the libs, we won't have an NDP government until 2017, probably not realistically until 2021 or 2025...
I just do not understand why Carole James does not get it. She needs to step down now. Every day longer she is leader is another nail in the NDP coffin. Joy McPhail, Libby Davies, Jenny Kwan, Corky Evan all I believe would of defeated Campbell.
Ms. James is probably a very nice person and is a good MLA and would be a good Cabinet minister, but she is not Premier material.
Barryeng
2 years ago
To freebear on "When I run"
This is a good comment. It actually has been done, in the US, many years ago and yes, the candidate did win. It could easily happen here too.
Grania
2 years ago
...Dislike Premier...
All those hopeful of replacing Campbell reads like a list of all those we definitely do NOT want governing BC. Carole James may not be fantastic...but even she comes out looking good against the likes of CHristie Clark and Rich Coleman , etc., etc. All those blood sucking Liberal clones. BC is in dire need of real, fair, involved, intelligent and concerned leadership....where is THAT person??? Maybe we need to vote for each Minister on personal merit and forget the party altogether. The best person in each category gets elected...I would vote for Prof. Richard Sullivan at UBC for Minister of Social Services and Housing for example....
The Blackbird
2 years ago
I'd vote for ...
David Eby, Executive Director of the BC Civil Liberties Association. I'd like to see him as Attorney General.
morechatter
2 years ago
We Get What We Need
We would have been very fortunate to have Carole James. She is exactly what this province needs during these difficult economic times. Its because James has a better understanding of the diversity of the province and the people. With Carole you get a leader who listens to her party members and their consitients while encouraging diversity.
Her background in education is a real bonus as there has been little investment in education and the people since the Liberals took office. It is especially important now when so many are out of work and looking to go back ot school. There is much demand in the future for skilled workers.
James was the real winner of the last election the truth be know. And since the truth wasn't know educators are having a tough go of and so are the parents and their childran as since being lied to no one has made alternative plans so everyone is short changed. Its quite awful as Coleman continues to make cuts that are devastating to say the least which government knew was happening in the spring. BC kids have sports taken out of the game plan while BC holds the Olymics as Coleman has no problem taking the food right out of the mouth of babes.
puckerlips
2 years ago
Ladies and Gentlemen ...
Please welcome the next premier of BC,
Carole Taylor.
MGS
2 years ago
Campbell/Election
How did Campbell get elected in the first place? Because the public wanted their politicians to be honest. At the time we had lots of accusations thrown at Glen Clark regarding the home improvements, gambling license, and the fast cat ferry fiasco. Well this was enough to turn the public away from Campbell who promised an honest and open government. He lied then and continues to lie to this day. As it turned out; the charges against Glen Clark were unfounded and the fast cats were made to look a lot worse than they were by Campbell selling them to one of his friends for a song and a dance. So all things being equal, he and his party will be turfed by the people of BC even if Arnold Schwartzenager was his opponent.
MGS
2 years ago
Front and center
Tyee! More people need to know of your existance. Maybe you could put some adds on BCTV and their affiliates to get the word out or buy one of their biased TV stations so people British Columbians can be properly informed as to what is really going on in their province.