MINISTER OF Local Government and Sport Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Senator Bruce Golding are the front runners, in the eyes of Jamaicans, for leadership of the country's two major political parties.
According to the latest Gleaner-commissioned poll, more than a third of those interviewed voiced a desire to see Mrs. Simpson Miller become leader of the People's National Party (PNP) when Prime Minister and current party leader, P.J. Patterson, demits office. At the same time, a quarter of the people want to see Senator Golding step into the shoes of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Edward Seaga.
The poll, conducted by pollster Don Anderson and his team of researchers from Market Research Services Ltd., was done from September 15 to 24 and involved 1,000 interviews with persons 18 years and older throughout the island's 14 parishes. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 per cent.
Mr. Anderson revealed that 37.5 per cent of those interviewed indicated a preference for Mrs. Simpson Miller over other potential candidates, such as recently-elected PNP vice-presidents Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, and former Minister of Water and Housing Dr. Karl Blythe. Mrs. Simpson Miller was the top vote-getter in the party's vice-presidential elections at its annual conference last month.
A paltry 2.6 per cent of persons considered Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning, a suitable replacement for Prime Minister Patterson.
"It is perhaps instructive that she (Mrs. Simpson Miller) has the support of persons across the demographic units of gender, age and socio-economic group, with the exception of persons in the upper income bracket who would prefer to see Dr. Phillips succeed Mr. Patterson," Mr. Anderson said in his analysis. Her principal support comes from females, younger persons and persons in the middle and low-socio-economic groups, he added. She is also the preferred candidate in all parishes except Trelawny and in Portmore, St. Catherine.
On the flip side, 26.6 per cent of persons interviewed feel that Senator Golding is the logical choice to take over from Mr. Seaga once he leaves office.
"This is a view held by all segments with the exception of young persons 18 to 24 who see Audley Shaw as that person," Mr. Anderson. Senator Golding has substantial support amongst the upper income persons with more than 43 per cent hoping to see him take over, the pollster added.
Senator Golding only last year returned to the JLP, prior to the October 16 General Election and after a five-year sojourn during which he founded and led the National Democratic Movement (NDM).
