If Canadians controlled the fickle finger of U.S. election fate, Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush would each be tapped as their party's nominee for president, a new poll suggests.
The poll, conducted by Mainstreet Technologies and Postmedia, suggests Clinton has the backing of nearly 55 per cent of Canadians, which puts her ahead of Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, who sits at eight per cent support among respondents.
Bush leads the Republican roster of candidates, with 17 per cent Canadian support, followed by Donald Trump (11 per cent) and Ted Cruz (four per cent).
The data suggests Canadian voters have very strong opinions about American politics and the upcoming 2016 race — especially when it comes to Barack Obama’s current work as president.
Seventy-five per cent of respondents approved of Obama’s job performance, 17 per cent disapproved, and nine per cent remained indifferent.
It’s a strong number Mainstreet executive vice-president David Valentin said he hasn't seen attached to party leaders in Canadian politics.
“It’s certainly the highest approval we’ve found for any politician anywhere in Canada — and it’s however ironic he’s not a Canadian politician,” Valentin told The Huffington Post Canada.
Respondents were polled after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold a key part of Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act and to legalize same-sex marriage across America — in the same week.
But high public opinion isn’t something a certain real estate mogul turned freshly-minted Republican presidential candidate is enjoying.
“Canadians really don’t like Donald Trump that much,” Valentin said. “It’s been steadily getting worse and worse for The Donald,” adding it appears there’s nowhere for Trump to go but down in polls.
Sixty-five per cent of Canadians surveyed did not have a favourable view of Trump, while 18 per cent said they do.
Trump was recently fired from NBC and dumped from American retail giant Macy’s over disparaging comments he made about Mexican immigrants.
The poll, conducted June 29, surveyed 2,511 Canadians via landline and mobile phones. The margin of error is 1.96 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
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