Looks like Jimbo has presently done some damage for the Conservatives in Ontario.
-----------------------------------------------
Tory support retreats to 2006 levels
Flaherty's anti-Ontario comments appear to have struck a sour note, stripping the Harper Conservatives of support needed for a majority government; poll also tackles Olympics, economy and polygamy
BRIAN LAGHI
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
April 15, 2008 at 3:43 AM EDT
OTTAWA — The federal Tories have ended their flirtation with majority government territory, according to a new poll that puts them back to the same support levels that gave them their current minority.
The poll shows that, while the Tories appear to be improving their standing with Quebec voters, they have lost support in Ontario since Finance Minister Jim Flaherty launched attacks on the province's Liberal government.
The Strategic Counsel survey, conducted April 10-13, found that 36 per cent of voters would support the Tories if an election were held today, compared with 30 per cent who would back the Liberals.
Support for the NDP has dropped three points from 2006, to 15 per cent.
The Bloc Québécois is down to 36 per cent in Quebec, while the Greens have the support of 10 per cent of Canadians, double their election level.
Two months ago, the Conservatives held a 12-point lead over the Liberals, 39-27.
Strategic Counsel partner Peter Donolo said the comments by Mr. Flaherty about the Ontario government's economic strategy appear to have struck a sour note.
"I think the chief casualty of Jim Flaherty's attacks was the Harper Conservative government," Mr. Donolo said. "He trash-talked his own province."
Mr. Flaherty said earlier this year that international investors would put Ontario at the bottom of their list of provinces in which to do business.
Ontario voters currently prefer the Liberals over the Tories by 42 per cent to 33 per cent, a jump of eight points for the Liberals from one month ago.
By contrast, the Tories are up to 27 per cent in Quebec, two points higher than the 2006 election, while the Grits are down one point from the same period. The Bloc has dropped six points from election day.
Mr. Donolo said the Tory rise in Quebec may be helped by Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion's recent difficulties in that province.
The poll of 1,000 Canadians is considered accurate to within three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080415.wpoll15/BNStory/National