From the CTV interpretation, you'd think the public was split 50/50 on the issue...
ACTUALLY, the poll shows that 42% of Canadians support the coalition governing, while far fewer believe Harper should carry on. 40%-plus in most elections pretty much means a "majority" government. A score of 40% to 35% means a win in anyone's books.
Tonight's poll shows that over 40% of Canadians support the Coalition. Now look below and note CTV's wording of that. They start out by specifically stating that 35% of Canadians want the Conservative Party to carry on. Then, almost secondarily, they state that 40% "want change". What change? Well, it's not a change of underwear, that's for sure. They could lead the story with a "40% of Canadians support the coalition", while 35% are against, and 25% are "undecided". Nooooo... they have to fudge the numbers to help their Conservative friends. I guess they really are "CTV - Conservative TV".
"In the midst of a coalition showdown, Canadians are deeply divided on whether the Conservatives deserve to stay in power, with 35 per cent saying the party should continue to govern and 40 per cent wanting change, according to an Angus Reid Strategies poll for CTV News.
If the government does collapse, respondents were equally split on whether a coalition government would be the best option for Canada.
Slightly more than a third of Canadians said they would support a coalition government formed by the opposition, when asked about their preferred solution if the government falls:
- Opposition coalition: 37 per cent
- Holding a federal election: 32 per cent
- No sure: 24 per cent
- Allowing the opposition to run by accord: 7 per cent"
