Interim Tory leader Ambrose would be favoured for permanent leadership: poll

A plurality of Conservative voters would support interim leader Rona Ambrose for the full time job if she is allowed to run, a new poll has found.

The Mainstreet Research poll found that if a leadership contest was held today 26 per cent of those who identify themselves as Tory supporters would choose Ambrose as the next permanent leader of the party. TV personality Kevin O’Leary had the support of 20 per cent of respondent’s while former MP and cabinet minister Peter Mackay had the support of 16 per cent of respondents. Conservative MP’s Tony Clement (7 per cent), Maxime Bernier (6 per cent) and Jason Kenney (6 per cent) were the only other possible candidates to break the five per cent threshold.

When Ambrose was removed from the equation, O'Leary (22 per cent) and MacKay (23 per cent) were found to be in a statistical tie with Bernier (8 per cent) far back in third.

It should be noted that the Conservative party’s constitution currently bars any interim leader of the party from seeking permanent leadership. Ambrose herself has also previously said that she has “no interest” in becoming permanent leader, though there have been some within the party who have raised the possibility.

The Mainstreet poll found that Ambrose did particularly in the Prairies (40 per cent support) and among women (31 per cent support). Ambrose didn't do as well among the oldest (21 per cent).

The poll surveyed 1,676 Canadian residents who identified themselves as Conservative supporters and not necessarily the actual card-carrying Conservative party members that would vote at a leadership convention.

Nonetheless, Mainstreet Research President Quito Maggi said the numbers do provide some indicator of how things could go at a convention.

“These results do act as a barometer for support but experienced candidates with established networks of supporters can outperform public support significantly,” he said in a press release. “These numbers are instructive in that they show the potential for all candidates at a particular moment and time among Conservative Party voters.”

The federal conservative party will choose their next leader on May 27, 2017.

So far only MP’s Maxime Bernier and Kellie Leitch have officially entered the race.

The Mainstreet Research poll is considered accurate to within 1.39 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.