Liberals see slight jump in latest polling, party tied for 1st place

Support for the governing Liberal party in Newfoundland and Labrador has rebounded slightly, putting it in a statistical three-way tie for first place.

The latest polling from Corporate Research Associates shows the Liberals now have 34 per cent of decided voters, up from 27 per cent in May.

The PC Party has maintained its 33 per cent support. The NDP is right behind at 32 per cent, a drop of six points since May.

Even though more people say they'd vote Liberal, more people are unhappy with the government.

Eight out of 10 people say they're dissatisfied with the government, up slightly from 75 per cent in the last survey.

The poll was conducted by CRA from August 8 to 31 and is considered accurate to plus or minus 4.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Rough spring

The polling comes after a rough spring for the new government. A hugely unpopular budget filled with tax increases and some spending cuts led to widespread protests and forced the government to back off on some of the more controversial decisions like the closing of half the libraries and a deficit reduction levy.

Premier Dwight Ball also remains the least popular leader with 17 per cent support.

PC leader Paul Davis is still the most popular choice for premier at 32 per cent, a lead he never held while he had the job. NDP leader Earle McCurdy is the second most popular choice at 24 per cent.

Ball will face a leadership review from his own party later this fall at the party's AGM.