We now have at least a bit of pollster data to compare to Skinny Dipper's online poll on the relative positions of the NDP's leadership candidates. But Forum Research's results look to largely match the previous candidate positioning - which combines with relatively little news from the candidates' travels to make for another very quiet week in the candidate rankings.
1. Thomas Mulcair (1)
Naturally Forum's results are more positive for Mulcair than for any other candidate. But it's worth sounding somewhat of a cautionary note since they're based on a poll of NDP voters rather than members - and one of Mulcair's most important challenges from day one has been to turn general positive impressions (particularly among NDP voters in Quebec) into member votes.
2. Peggy Nash (2)
No news is also good news for Nash, who placed a solid second in Forum's polling and has confirmed some of her down-ballot growth potential by pulling away from Mulcair in later-ballot results in Skinny Dipper's poll.
3. Brian Topp (3)
Meanwhile, the low starting point for every other candidate in Forum's polling means that my analysis will focus slightly more on growth potential than current starting points. And while Topp obviously hasn't managed to make himself the favourite at this point, he still has a strong organization set to help him build both name recognition and favourability.
4. Niki Ashton (5)
With the Canadian Wheat Board in the news Ashton has taken the opportunity to trumpet her theme that the NDP needs to rally support in the West. But it's still an open question as to whether enough will end up in Ashton's camp to keep her on the final ballots.
5. Paul Dewar (4)
Yes, his organization on paper is still a top-four machine. But if Forum is right in placing his current support then Dewar looks like he's running a far safer campaign than he can afford - with his "Your Canada Year" plan in particular looking like it's better seen as an election goodie for swing voters rather than an inspirational idea for the NDP's membership base.
6. Romeo Saganash (6)
He hasn't yet earned a place in major media headlines for it. But if the Harper Cons' push for private property on First Nations reserves becomes a major news story into the new year, it may well be exactly the boost Saganash needs to emerge as the leading defender of collective values as the leadership race progresses.
7. Nathan Cullen (7)
With the Libs pointing to a couple of polls as evidence that they're back on the upswing nationally, it's looking less and less likely that their activists will be desperate enough to cross party lines to back Cullen. And that figures to narrow his path to victory even further.
8. Martin Singh (8)
A quiet week for Singh extends his stay above the bottom rung of the ladder. But we'll have to see whether he has more on offer from a policy standpoint to draw attention as the campaign develops.
9. Robert Chisholm (9)
No, Chisholm isn't necessarily stuck here for the duration of the campaign. But no news for the week means no chance to improve his standing.
[Edit: fixed title.]
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