NNN/Bluedot Poll: Older Voters say Golding is Suitable as PNP Leader

Mark Golding greets an elderly People’s National Party supporter during a tour of Hanover. (Image: Mark Golding/IG)

Older voters are more likely to believe People’s National Party, PNP, president Mark Golding is well suited for his job as leader of the party. That’s according to the latest Nationwide/Bluedot polls, powered by Total Tools.

But despite his strong support among older voters, Golding is facing challenges with other demographics.

George Davis has the details.

Entering his fifth year at the helm of the 87-year old PNP and seeking the highest political office in the land, Mark Golding’s fortunes may rise or fall with Jamaica’s senior citizens.

They are the ones most likely to ‘Go with Golding’.

When the Bluedot pollsters asked 1,500 registered voters if they believed Golding was suited for his job, 37 per cent of voters over 55-years-old believed he was well suited. Eleven per cent of that age demographic believed Golding was actually extremely well suited to his job.

If that traditionally reliable voting bloc comes out to the polls later this year, Golding may have a real shot at Jamaica House.

But before Golding can convince Jamaicans he is ready to be prime minister, he must convince them he is suited to his current job as PNP president.

His problem is that younger Jamaicans are not quite sold on that. At least not yet.

Fifteen per cent of voters 18-to-24 years old say Golding is extremely poorly suited for his job. That rises to 17 per cent among voters 25-to-34. That poor rating from voters climbs to a high of 22 per cent among voters 45-to-54.

As has been consistent in these polls so far, men were more likely to give Golding the nod. Thirteen per cent of men say Golding is extremely well suited for his job. At the same time, 16 per cent of men say Golding is not suited for his job.

But Golding continues to have a hard time with women. Only nine per cent of them say Golding is extremely well suited for his job as PNP president. Nineteen per cent of women say the PNP president is extremely poorly suited for the role.

The PNP president has seemingly stamped his authority on the party, with 32 per cent of comrades saying their leader was extremely well suited for his job.

Only two percent of PNP supporters say Golding is poorly suited for the job. Sixteen per cent of comrades say Golding is about average at the job.

Thirty-one per cent of Jamaica Labour Party supporters say Golding is extremely unsuited for his job. Sixteen per cent of unaffiliated voters agreed with that sentiment. Only four per cent of unaffiliated voters say Golding is well suited to lead the PNP.

The Nationwide/Bluedot polls were conducted between January 21 and February 1. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent.