It's not even all that surprising that Michael Ignatieff would win that particular poll handily, with only 31 percent of respondents saying he should stick around, compared to 46 percent who ready to volunteer to help him pack. But only by going through the data tables, which break down the result by voter intention, can one become truly boggled by the revelation that not even Liberal supporters are all that keen on the guy: Only 55 percent would keep him on as leader -- 26 percent would ditch him for the nearest available alternative in a flash. That's 26 percent of LIBERAL-LEANING VOTERS. Seriously, I've said it once, and I'm sure I'll say it again: Yikes. 

Also, it's probably worth noting that Jack Layton is still the most loved -- or, more accurately, least disliked -- leader, although you always have to wonder what supporters of other parties are thinking when they answer those sorts of questions. Are they thinking, man, I really hope we get to run against him next time around? Or do they put themselves in the other partisan's shoes? I know, I know -- never get philosophical when reading polls -- that way, madness lies. 

Anyway, for your statistics-based entertainment, here are the national numbers, followed by my usual attempt at analysis: 

Conservatives: 38.4

Liberals: 26.8

NDP: 16.7

Green: 9.9

Bloc Quebecois (Quebec):33.5 

And the regionals: 

Conservatives: 36.8

Liberals: 25.0

NDP: 28.9

Green: 9.3

So, let's see: the Conservatives are ahead everywhere, which is, frankly, getting kind of dull, as far as writing about the numbers -- what more is there to say, really? Man, they're doing well! Just like celebrity-watching, it only starts to get interesting when there's a trainwreck, which is why one has to be thankful for the Liberals, although even they've managed to inch up a little, although it's well within the margin of error. 

More intriguing is the creeping support for the NDP, particularly in British Columbia and Quebec; the former can likely be at least partially attributed to the zeal with which the Dips have thrown themselves into the anti-HST campaign, but what's the deal with Quebec? Where, incidentally, the Tories seem to have settled in the very low 20s, which is better than what they were probably expecting; the neighbouring Liberals, however, will likely be still more dispirited by their failure to pull out of the post-Coderre debacle tailspin.