From the Vancouver Sun – April 26, 2011

by Larry Pynn

Elizabeth May has been saying all along she’s a legitimate contender in Saanich-Gulf Islands.

Now, with less than a week until the federal election, the Green party leader has a poll to help back it up.

Oraclepoll
Research Ltd. found that 44.5 per cent of voters in the riding are
“most likely” to vote for May or are “leaning towards” supporting her.

That
compares with 37.8 per cent for Conservative incumbent Gary Lunn, 9.1
per cent for NDP candidate Edith Loring-Kuhanga, and 8.5 per cent for
Liberal candidate Renee Hetherington.

Commissioned by the
Green party and released Tuesday, the poll surveyed 389 voting age
residents April 18 and 19. The margin of error is 4.9 per cent, 19 times
out of 20.

Of those polled, 17.2 per cent were aged 18 to
34, 51.4 per cent aged 35 to 54, and 29.8 per cent aged 55 years or
older. The other 1.5 per cent refused to say.

While the
election outcome remains far from certain, the poll results confirm the
hunch of University of Victoria political scientist Dennis Pilon. “I
really think she’s got a chance,” he said.

Called out by
The Vancouver Sun, the Green party conceded Tuesday it was wrong by
stating in a news release that the poll showed 45 per cent of “decided
voters” supported May.