Liberal support drops to 13 per cent

Support for Newfoundland and Labrador's struggling Liberal party has gone from bad to worse, while the governing PCs and upstart NDP have made gains, a poll released Tuesday shows.

Halifax-based Corporate Research Associates reported Tuesday that its quarterly tracking poll found that support for the Liberals among decided voters had dropped to 13 per cent from a previous poll of 22 per cent. [Read CRA's statement here.]

The Progressive Conservatives' support increased to 60 per cent from 54 per cent, while the New Democrats — who lost a bid for Official Opposition status to the Liberals by a one-seat margin in October's election — went from 24 per cent to 26 per cent.

The poll, which involved a sample of 800 adults, was conducted between Nov. 9 and Nov. 29, well after Kevin Aylward announced he will resign as Liberal leader as soon as the party finds a replacement.

The Liberals won six seats in October's election, increasing the size of their caucus by two seats.

However, key Liberals have made no secret of the party's troubles.

"We've just come through a horrific time," provincial party president Judy Morrow told On Point with David Cochrane in an episode broadcast last weekend. [VIDEO: Watch On Point here.]

"Support for the Liberals is at its lowest level since May 2008, while support for the NDP has increased in each of the past three quarters," CRA said in a statement.

CRA, meanwhile, also found that Premier Kathy Dunderdale's approval increased from a pre-election survey of 50 per cent to 59 per cent.

Dunderdale led the PCs to a third consecutive majority government on Oct. 11, becoming the first woman to be elected Newfoundland and Labrador's premier in the process.

The poll found that support for Aylward was cut in half, from 16 per cent to eight per cent, and that NDP Leader Lorraine Michael's support increased from 17 per cent to 21 per cent.

The poll had a margin of error of 3.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.