Winnipeggers' reactions mixed on latest Selinger poll results

New poll results out showa significant chunk of Manitobansthink re-electing Premier Greg Selinger to lead the provincial NDP was a mistake that could cost the party the forthcoming provincial election.

• Greg Selinger still least popular premier but ranking has improved

The embattled premier squeaked out awin over rebel ex-cabinet ministerandSeine River MLA Theresa OswaldMarch 8to resume his role at the helm of the party.

A total of1,005 Manitobans were surveyed over the phone by Probe Research Inc. between March 17 and April 1 and asked how they think the NDP will fare in the next provincial election with Selinger in charge.

Forty per cent of those polled said they think the party did the wrong thing by voting Selinger back into power. Forty-two per cent said the party's odds of winning the next election with Selinger as NDP leader have gone down.

Despite the fact that Manitobans in general think members of the NDP made a mistake voting Selinger back into power, 58 per cent ofNDP-supportersin particularwere on board with the party's decision.

Whereas just 11 per cent of Manitobanssaid they think the NDP is more likely to trounce the competition in the provincial PCs and Liberals in the 2016 election with Selinger around, that percentagegoes up a bitfor party faithful. Nineteenper cent of NDP-voters said they think their party is better off with Selinger at the controls.

Thirty-three per cent ofcard-carrying NDP votersindicated that the party is less likely to take the provincial election with Selingeras leader.Another 42 per cent think it doesn't really matter who is leading the party.

Winnipeggers react to results

People at The Forks were split onwhat the results meanand whether keeping Selinger in his position was a good idea.

"My MLAvoted for him, my MLA supports him and my MLAknows more about my riding then I do," said KaylaJory. "I usually base my vote more on who's in my riding and who will do the best for my riding and where I live, and if that happens to be NDP,than I will vote NDP. If that happens to be Conservative than I willvote Conservative."

A majority of bothLiberal and PC voters polled said they think the party erred in re-electingSelinger. ButWinnipeggerConradMerastysaid despite the poll's findings, he thinksSelinger'spolitical experience will help the NDP win the next election.

"I think he's got a pretty good team," saidMerasty. "With his track record I do think it will help them."

And while many Conservative voters are pining for a new day withBrian Pallister leading the province forward, Melinda Sears said she doesn't think the current cast ofPCs is strong enough to oust the NDP in 2016.

"PCs[have]been out for a while now, and what they have for representatives, I don't know if they're strong enough, so unfortunately, yes, NDP will probably get back in," said Sears.

The poll results had a 95 per cent certainty rate within+/- 3.1 percentagepoints of what it would've been if every adult in Manitobaweresurveyed. However the margin of error is higher within sub-groups, as the poll sample is smaller.

The poll was commissioned by the Winnipeg Free Press.