Quebeckers were getting ready to crown him king, but the closest Mario Dumont is likely to get to the throne is in a washroom stall. A new poll shows ADQ support is slipping.
A new CROP-Express poll suggests 34 per cent of decided Quebec voters now support the Liberals. The Parti Québécois follows at 33 per cent, and then Mario Dumont’s ADQ at 31 per cent. It’s the first time the ADQ has come third in a poll since April.
Granted, “super-Mario” was a one-man show, who got by on charisma as long as his platform – or lack of – wasn’t scrutinized too closely. His proposals may have been a bit too conservative for Quebec – with the feasibility of such ideas as flat tax or school vouchers being doubted. And his surge in popularity led to increased questions about his youth, his lack of experience, and his incredible fence-sitting act on the sovereignty question.
But according to the Gazette, none of that is the reason for the wind being knocked out of Mario’s sails.
Many believe Dumont’s popularity decline began after a well-received speech at Toronto’s Canadian Club in September. The next day, Quebec networks and newspapers carried images of Dumont speaking in front of a giant Maple Leaf flag.
Once again, as the song says, “Blame Canada” . . .
I don’t think its a question of blaming Canada. This guy’s politics are more right-wing than Mike Harris’. The PQ is not what it used to be and has moved towards the right (including the ethnic nationalism of the old party members in power). Quebeckers might have been sold on the PQ which HAD a “for the people” image, but given what it did to the medicare system, that image is now permanently shattered–for the better. That seems to leave the Liberals as the only option. Too bad, they suck. We need a new party.