- IAN ALLEN STAFF/PHOTOGRAPHER
Portia Simpson Miller gets a hug from a supporter.
IN A matter of months, Portia Simpson Miller, the charismatic Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport, has registered a more than six per cent increase in public support for the job of People's National Party (PNP) president and, consequently, prime minister.
According to the findings of the survey, an overwhelming 57.8 per cent of persons interviewed believed that Mrs. Simpson Miller was the best person to succeed Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who intends to demit office before April 2006, with the majority arguing that the country now needs a woman to do the job.
"Essentially, she is the candidate that has endeared herself to the public and has been the consistent favourite among the voting public," said pollster Don Anderson in his analysis.
"Indeed, this rating is the highest she has achieved in recent times as the last poll conducted in June 2005 showed her as the favourite with just under 52 per cent of popular support."
The survey was conducted by Anderson and his team of researchers from Market Research Services Ltd., between October 18 - November 8.
A nationally-representative sample of 1,000 persons aged 18 years and over was interviewed across all parishes for the poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 per cent.
Another PNP vice-president, Dr. Peter Phillips, remains Mrs. Simpson Miller's chief rival for the job, though support for his candidature has faltered by a slight two per cent.
Dr. Phillips currently holds 19.8 per cent support while Dr. Omar Davies runs a distant third with a minuscule 7.2 per cent.
A third vice-president, Dr. Karl Blythe, currently clings to 6.2 per cent support while party chairman Robert Pickersgill, who has already exited the race, holds 1.4 per cent.
"Simpson Miller is the only one of the leading candidates to have gained popular support over the two polls and this appears to have been at the expense of all the others," Anderson said.
According to the survey, Mrs. Simpson Miller was most significantly supported by females, both young and old, and by low-income persons.
Dr. Phillips' support was mainly among younger persons and among the upper-income strata of the population. Males, older persons and the low-income strata primarily made up Dr. Davies' support, while Dr. Blythe's support was manifested through males, older persons and the middle-income group.
About 44 per cent of those who supported Mrs. Simpson Miller said it was time for a woman to lead the nation, while 13.3 per cent said she was capable of doing a good job.
Of Dr. Phillips' supporters, 34 per cent said he was capable of doing a good job while 23.7 per cent said he was a good leader.
More than 58 per cent of those interviewed said Mrs. Simpson Miller had the best chance of defeating Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, while just fewer than 19 per cent said Dr. Phillips was best suited to take on the Jamaica Labour Party head.
Notably, however, it is not the public who will select the new president of the PNP, but the party's delegates.
The pollster stressed, though, that it is ultimately the public who will decide which party wins the next national elections.
