The federal Liberals still score higher on the Nanos Party Power Index and Stephen Harper’s advantage seems to have evaporated, according to the latest week-over-week numbers.
After a series of weeks of positive momentum, the Tories took a slight dip nationally in the Nanos Index (out of a possible 100 points):
- Liberals: 57 (unchanged)
- Conservatives: 53 (down one point from last week)
- NDP: 50 (up one point from last week)
- Greens: 32 (unchanged)
- Bloc: 26 (up one from last week)
See the latest charts and graphs in our Nanos on the Numbers home page
A trend or a one-off?
Also of note, the preferred Prime Minister numbers for Harper also declined this week, and he and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau are now virtually tied.
- Stephen Harper: 31% (down 3% from last week)
- Justin Trudeau: 31% (unchanged)
- Tom Mulcair: 17% (up 1% from last week)
Harper’s decline has coincided with a significant focus on fighting terror. So we have to wonder: have the Conservatives overplayed their hand on terror?
We’ll have to watch the preferred Prime Minister numbers closely. The focus on terror has served the Tories well from the perspective of helping to build Harper’s brand, but it may be time for them to pivot off of terror and get their message back on the economy or risk political turbulence.
The weekly power index is based on a composite of the following public opinion measures:
- National ballot numbers
- Which political party people would consider voting for
- Top two choices for prime minister
- Whether each party leader has good leadership qualities
