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Dion weak, uninspiring but still more likeable than PM: poll

The Canadian Press

May 8, 2008 at 2:52 PM EDT

OTTAWA — A new poll suggests most Canadians think Stéphane Dion is weak, uninspiring and unintelligible.

But, for all his flaws, they still find the Liberal leader somewhat more likable than Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The Canadian Press-Harris/Decima survey explores why Mr. Dion’s Liberals have not been able capitalize on lingering reservations about Harper’s Conservatives.

It suggests that Mr. Dion’s biggest problem is his inability to communicate; 58 per cent of respondents said he seems to have trouble communicating effectively.

Fifty-three per cent said Mr. Dion doesn’t offer much optimism or inspiration while an equal percentage said he seems like a weak leader.

Forty-seven per cent said there’s something about Mr. Dion they don’t like, compared to 55 per cent who said the same thing about Mr. Harper.

The telephone poll of just over 1,000 Canadians was conducted May 1-4 and is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.