Christie’s popularity is being overshadowed by new FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis polls suggests!
Polls confirm a turning of the tide in favour for Dr. Hubert Minnis and the FNM –
Nassau, Bahamas — As reported by BBB Analytics more than one year ago, the FNM leader’s popularity within the rank and file of the Free National Movement and nationally continues to aggressively climb, particularly among youth and disaffected PLPs.
Dr. Minnis’ new attraction at the centre of politics makes him now the strongest man in Bahamian opposition politics polls confirm.
Recent polling done by the Governing Progressive Liberal Party has shown a slippage in support for the country’s oldest political organization and this could spell serious problems for Christie’s return to the polls in a 2017 bid.
Readers would remember it was BBB Analytics which projected the big win of the PLP back in 2012. Against the polls of the FNM, the DNA, the Guardian and the Tribune, we predicted that, when Christie defeated Hubert Ingraham on May 7th, 2012, he would be left with a SUPER MAJORITY in the Parliament. We at BP projected then that when Christie clung to power following that election defeat of the FNM of Hubert Ingraham, the PLP will have 30 seats in the Parliament and an unbeatable five year hold on power.
So said- SO DONE!
But now that Dr. Minnis has made major inroads on the ground, and now that the PLP’s new generation crew has become liability for the Party – polls once in favor of Christie’s organization are not looking good and it appears, as we write, Dr. Hubert Minnis could topple the Christie government and land it [PLP] back into opposition just three years from now.
Last year Bahamas Press reported that Dr. Hubert Minnis was indeed the most popular FNM in the country. In that report released in early January 2012, our pollsters conducted a poll two weeks prior to the Christmas Holidays of 2011, which showed that Dr. Minnis was indeed likely to succeed as leader if an early general election was called.
BP partnered with a new firm, BBB Analytics, at the time of our report and then our numbers proved true.
Dr. Minnis in 2011 was described as “THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE FNM” following his stellar performance in the FNM Government. He was reported to have a personal rating of 70% and, based on his performance as a Minister, a rating of 62%. This was compared to ratings from 2% – 17% for some of the other Ministers in the FNM Government.
Today, in a poll taken in March of 2013, BBB Analytics reported Minnis to have a 75% personal rating nationally and is solidly the most likely successor to carry the FNM to a victory.
Massive support within the party from the women’s vote is transferring now to Dr. Minnis who is articulating a way forward for all in the New Bahamas. Youth and young voters polled also suggest – time could be shorter than rope for the PLP!
Polling data captured out of a test of likely voters suggest they would support Dr. Minnis and his FNM Party if a general election was to be held today. The poll done by PLP pollsters recently confirmed the same.
In polls carried out by BBB Analytics over a two-week period between September 15 and November 1st with a sample size of 701 respondents, the situation is not looking good for the governing party.
A sample of this proportion only represented a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent.
The poll showed that the Free National Movement Leader Dr. Minnis’ (FNM) core support is now at its highest at base 49.5 per cent, followed by the Progressive Liberal Party Leader Christie (PLP) at 45.7 per cent, and the Democratic National Alliance Leader (DNA) at 2.8 per cent. A total of 2 per cent of the sample were undecided voters.
Dr. Minnis’ convincing surge ahead suggests the quickest ever turnaround in popular support for any opposition leader ever. Some suggest this was created mainly following the Jan. 28th Gaming Poll, which concluded in a resounding victory for the referendum “NO” Vote. That poll left the Christie Government in a state of surprised shock!
Secondly, there is the discombobulated state of affairs inside the governing party, where MPs of the government have nakedly neglected constituencies and abandoned branches. Many disaffected PLPs note the Christie Government fired not one FNM save Algernon Cargill – which cost taxpayers almost $1 million to achieve.
It’s Unbelievable!
Many polls also commented that the failure of the Christie Government to empower or imbue its generals has caused mass disaffection within the rank and file of the PLP.
Thirdly, the government’s uncanny willingness to pacify special interests, like Atlantis over local gaming houses has further eroded support. The Government is now ready to move a bill in Parliament to make online gaming legal for Atlantis, but did not have the courage to do the same for local webshops. This decision has angered many voters and has damaged the PLP’s base support.
The Government’s failure to save one home in foreclosure since 2012, among other things, has left angry supporters in deep dismay and disillusionment!
We have provided commentary here for the Government to move ahead with the Borrowers Protection Bill, to alleviate some of the gouging taking place by the Banks. However, Special Interests are again carrying the day.
Moreover, the government’s move on VAT is already sending shockwaves throughout the economy with merchants already raising prices without any controls or restraints shown by the government to protect the public.
“What you are seeing, BP, are the major cracks already in the walls of the PLP. The picture is clearer by the day and our forces will not be battle ready to take on the new gladiator [Dr. Minnis] who is clearly on a warpath to return his party back to government. When you see the issued listed above you come to the conclusion that we have abandoned our Charter for Governance – the commitment given to the people, and to date, not even the 100 days commitments are being followed to the fullest,” one politico observer told BP.
The rising surge of Dr. Minnis is widely shown by his own compelling story, where many of the respondents in the poll say, “We can identify with him. He is one of us.”
What in the hell is dis?
