Thursday, November 5, 2009 1:48 PM
Pollster cuts ties with CPAC
Jane Taber
“Nik on the numbers” is how political Ottawa refers to national pollster Nik Nanos. Today, however, he sent out a letter to his friends saying Nanos Research is no longer on the numbers for the Cable Public Affairs Channel.
For the past five years, the Queen’s University graduate and father of four sons has been the pollster for CPAC. And just this season, CPAC launched a new show, The Nanos Report. In his note today, however, he says that he has had to sever his partnership as a result of a “disagreement on principle regarding work Nanos Research performs for other organizations.”
Mr. Nanos has conducted research for the television broadcasters who are in a fight with the cable companies over collecting carriage fees. “Although I have enjoyed the last five years of collaboration with CPAC, from my perspective, there was no other choice than to move on.” Last Sunday’s television show was his last, he says, adding that he enjoyed doing them.
He made a big name for himself and his polling firm after absolutely nailing the results of the 2006 election. When every other big and established polling firm overestimated the Tory results - by about two percentage points - Mr. Nanos was within 0.1 points of the vote total for the four parties. The Conservatives pulled in 36.3 per cent support, and Stephen Harper formed his first minority government, beating Paul Martin and his Liberal team.
CPAC officials declined comment, as the matter involves commercial negotiations.
