New AR Poll: 7-point Conservative Lead

The Toronto Star is reporting on a new Angus-Reid poll. The paper is giving very few details, but what this article mentions is that the poll involved 1,002 people and completed polling on September 13.

The result:

Conservatives - 36%
Liberals - 29%
New Democrats - 17%
Bloc Quebecois - 10%
Greens - 7%

Angus-Reid has been pretty bang-on in the polls the last few elections, so their findings have to be given due respect. With a 3.1 margin of error, this puts the Ipsos-Reid poll from yesterday in a better light, though it still seems they under-polled the NDP at 12%.

The article also mentions that the Tories have a 12-point lead in Ontario. Massive.

I am curious to see what the EKOS poll will say tomorrow as well as polls next week. The polls we've been getting this week all took place in the context of a probable election. Polls that will be released at the end of this week and next week will be taken in the context of an election avoided. What we will have to watch is whether the NDP will benefit for trying to 'make Parliament work' or whether they will be punished for folding to the Conservatives. We will also have to watch whether the Liberals will be punished for their adamant opposition to the government, or whether they will be rewarded for growing a back-bone.