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Early polls show the federal NDP has a shot at taking away Conservative seats in Saskatchewan for the first time in 15 years.
Across the province, support for the NDP is at 42 per cent. That’s nine points ahead of the Conservatives according to the latest EKOS poll.
The Liberals are in third with 14 per cent, just four points up on the Green Party.
In terms of specific ridings, another political website – threehundredeight.com – is showing an 87 per cent chance the NDP take Regina-Lewvan and a 93 per cent chance they’ll win in Saskatoon West.
The last time the NDP held a federal seat in Saskatchewan was in 2000.
A lot can change before Election Day
A day is a long time in politics, according to University of Saskatchewan political science professor Joe Garcea. Some of the factors that could change the course of the federal election race include news about the economy, the Mike Duffy trial and Thursday’s leaders’ debate.
Garcea said there is a growing movement of voters who want “anybody but Harper” to win. The sentiment is the result of people perceiving Stephen Harper as aloof and arrogant, he said.
“This notion that he doesn’t even listen to his advisors,” Garcea said, adding it’s a serious problem for Harper in this election.
“He basically says, ‘full steam ahead. Damned be the torpedoes, full steam ahead.’”
However, Garcea believes the “anybody but Harper” vote could split between the Liberals and the NDP, which would leave the Conservatives with a win anyway.
The Conservative’s attack ads on Justin Trudeau have paid off, but also benefitted the NDP. Garcea said it will be interesting to see how the Conservatives decide to attack Tom Mulcair.
Some of those attacks will come during the leaders’ debate.
“We know the kind of engagement debates that we’ve had in Parliament between Mulcair and Harper so I think we are all going to be riveted to the television set.”
-with files from News Talk Radio’s Karin Yeske
BKnight@rawlco.com
Follow on Twitter: @BradyKnight1