A "Gaffe", Eh? Part Hmmm

The nation is split over Thomas Mulcair's "Dutch Disease" theory, with slightly more disagreeing than agreeing with the NDP leader.

Some surprising and not so surprising things in the regional numbers:

Most people polled in oil-rich Alberta and the rest of the Prairies disagreed with the NDP leader, while those in Quebec and British Columbia were most likely to agree with him. 

Given the mix of resource extraction versus manufacturing in the B.C. economy, these numbers make most sense  if you see the larger Dutch Disease hypothesis as a means of getting to an anti-Northern Gateway position.

As to whether his views have hurt Mulcair, it doesn't look the poll asked a simple horse-race question re voting intentions, but there is this:

The poll suggests less than half of Canadians had heard about Mulcair's comments.

If I were the NDP leader I would be saying a little prayer for the Canadian Sheeple.

A "Gaffe", Eh?

The New Democrats (36%) have moved into a narrow national lead over the Conservatives (32%). Liberals trail with 19 percent. Green support stand at seven percent support and the BQ has six percent (25% in Quebec).

So this poll was done May 7 to 9, though just released yesterday, after the Mulcair appearance on The House  (May 5) that set things off, but before the whole other week of yelling and screaming that followed.  A bit early to judge, but after the first four days of media "outrage", this poll shows no downward movement in the  NDP numbers.  And, just as an aside, back in 2008 Mulcair's regional strategy was offered to Dion and he turned it down out of sheer nice-guyishness, so somebody figured it might work back then too.

As to the cries of "divisiveness", well, depending who's making the charge, please hand me a barf bag.  Its like the Conservatives think wedge politics is their game and nobody else is allowed to play.

Mind you, its still early, and the next poll could see the NDP taking water over this.  But having the entire opinion page at  Postmedia angry at you doesn't signify that you've made a gaffe.  These days, with their readership numbers, it signals almost nothing at all.

Update: Steve V says gaffe!