Leadership Poll

Angus-Reid has released a new leadership poll in the wake of the Obama visit. The results are interesting.

Stephen Harper's approval rating is 38% and his disapproval rating is 52%. Not surprisingly, he is most liked in Alberta (59%) but it is out east where he needs to put in some time. Only 26% of Atlantic Canada approves of Harper's performance as Prime Minister, and only 22% in Quebec. There, a whopping 68% of Quebecers disapprove of Harper.

By comparison, Michael Ignatieff is well-liked. His approval rating as leader of the opposition is 42% and he only has a 31% disapproval rating. His marks are more or less consistent across the board, but the Prairie region seems to like him the most.

Not surprisingly, Barack Obama is very popular in Canada. In all, 82% of Canadians approve of Obama, while only 7% do not. He is most liked in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, with 88% favourability. In those two regions, only 2% and 3%, respectively, disapprove.

Another interesting aspect of the poll is whether Canadians want to extend its mission in Afghanistan past 2011 if the President requests it. A strong majority, 65%, answered no. Only 20% are willing to extend the mission, the lowest results coming in British Columbia and Quebec with 16%. The highest rejection was also in Quebec, at 72%. Alberta and Atlantic Canada are most willing to extend the mission, at 29% and 26%, respectively.

This poll more or less confirms the polling numbers we've been seeing across the country. Harper is struggling in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, and Ignatieff is doing moderately well.

No opinion polls since February 8, however.

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