In my mind there is a big difference between "which leader and party would do the best job dealing with the election issue they felt was most important to them" (as asked by Ipsos-Ried - h/t NealeNews) and "who will you vote"? Yes they are connected but absolutely connected?
...According to pollster Ipsos Reid, Paul Martin and the Liberals are in a virtual three-way tie with the Conservatives and the NDP in Ontario.
The Prime Minister and his party were the choice 32% of Ontario residents, compared with 30% for Stephen Harper and the Tories and 29% for Jack Layton's New Democrats.
The poll asked 800 Ontario residents, chosen at random, which leader and party would do the best job dealing with the election issue they felt was most important to them.
...The poll found that the Conservatives continue to struggle for support in the "416" area code of central Toronto ridings, where they are listed as the first choice of only 20% of those polled compared with 39% for the Liberals and 32% for the NDP.
However, in the "905 belt" of ridings around the city of Toronto Mr. Harper and the Tories were chosen by 33% of respondents. Mr. Martin and the Liberals were picked by 32% and the NDP was the first choice of 26%.
That represents good news for the Tories, who see the suburban belt as rich with potential.
The poll found Mr. Harper and the Conservatives were most popular in Eastern Ontario, where they were the first choice of 42% of respondents compared with 26% for the NDP and 25% for the Liberals.
In the southwestern corner of the province, they were chosen by 37% of those surveyed, while the NDP was picked by 30% and the Liberals by 27%.
I would say this is all positive but I am not counting chickens...
