Taylor Bachrach holds 6% popular vote lead as debate weeks get underway in Skeena-Bulkley Valley

With thirteen days until election day, 338 Canada is holding to its
early projection of a victory for the NDP in Skeena-Bulkley Valley

The Northwest is making for one of the few bright spots for the Federal NDP so far in the 2019  election campaign, with Skeena-Bulkley Valley one of the few riding's in Canada where the party's flag carrier is favoured to carry the day on October 21st.

As the candidates prepare for a whirlwind week and a number of Election forums in communities across the region, the most recent data from the 338Canada group indicated little in the way of movement in the polling numbers.

The October 7th release of data continues to put Taylor Bachrach in the lead, hosting 36.8 percent of the projected popular vote, with Conservative Claire Rattée a little over 6 percent off his pace with the Tory candidate polling at 30.4 percent.

Further down the listings is the battle for third place, with Liberal Dave Birdi currently holding a 2.1 percent advantage over the Greens Mike Sawyer.

Jody Craven continues to register in the three percent range, this week noted as the likely choice of 3.5 percent of the voters.

The CHP's Rod Taylor and Independents Merv Ritchie and Dan Nunes have not yet seen any breakthrough in getting their message to the voters, not registering in the 338Canada numbers.

While six percent may seem like a strong lead, the indications to this point suggest that the Skeena-Bulkley Valley race is really now one that is a showdown between the two front runners.

That means that as the debates get  underway this week, both Mr. Bachrach and Ms. Rattée may not be debating each other so much, as they will be looking to attract some of the voters currently placing their voting intentions with the three others in the 338Canada listings.

Shifting some of that support to the NDP or the Conservative camp could make for a much closer race than the current snapshot indicates, that prospect should give both campaign teams cause to re-double their efforts to get out the vote on October 21st.

Prince Rupert plays host to the first of the upcoming list of debates, with the candidates taking to the stage at the Lester Centre on Wednesday evening at 7PM.

For more notes on the campaign across Skeena-Bulkley Valley see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.