Green Party poll shows tight district race between Bevan-Baker, Docherty
Bevan-Baker leads at 38% among decideds in Kellys Cross-Cumberland, according to Green-commissioned poll
The Green Party has released a poll for District 17, Kellys Cross-Cumberland — the district where party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker is running.
The poll shows, among decided voters, support for Bevan-Baker is at 37.8 per cent.
Liberal incumbent Valerie Docherty is at 32.4 per cent, Progressive Conservative candidate Randy Robar is at 24.8 per cent.
NDP candidate Jesse Cousins, is at five per cent.
Twenty-four per cent of those polled said they were undecided.
Bevan-Baker says he was "stunned" by the results.
"It's a two-horse race and I think if people will want to have a new voice in the legislature in District 17, then I'm the choice to do this," he said.
"It also shows that Islanders are ready for change, for real change."
Docherty says reception in the district has been "great" for both she and Leader Wade MacLauchlan
"Like all polls, who knows what's going to happen. It is an opinion and I've always believed – this is my third election – and you just work hard, you go to the door, you meet the people," said Docherty.
"We'll see what happens on Monday."
Robar told CBC News the poll results are quite "inconsistent" with what he's hearing as he campaigns door to door, although he agrees people are looking for change.
Respondents named employment and health care as the most important issues facing residents in the district followed by honesty and integrity in government.
The poll was done by Oraclepoll Research and cost $1,200, which was paid for by the Green Party.
The polling company contacted 344 eligible voters in the riding by phone, between April 25 and April 28.
It's considered accurate to plus or minus 5.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.