A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll finds Kevin O’Leary and Peter MacKay “tied” among Conservative Party voters in a hypothetical leadership race.

In a release issued on Sunday, the pollster says former PC Leader Peter MacKay leads the pack with the support of 25 per cent and perhaps surprisingly, TV personality and capitalist pundit Kevin O’Leary would get the support of over 23 per cent of Conservative voters, just behind Peter MacKay and he leads MacKay in western Canada.

The next closest was Defence Minister Jason Kenney at just eight per cent, followed by Lisa Raitt at 4.4 per cent, Maxime Bernier at four per cent and Kellie Leitch at three per cent.

Executive Vice President of Mainstreet Research David Valentin says it’s not just celebrity name recognition that’s working for O’Leary.

“Fifty one per cent of Canadians have a positive impression and only 14 per cent say they’ve never heard of him before, so he’s actually less known than Peter MacKay and has a higher favourability score,” he said.

It may have something to do with his recent criticism of Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, but O’Leary’s largest base of support comes from Western Canada.

It’s no surprise MacKay is popular in Atlantic Canada, which may be a problem for him.

“There is no Conservative seat in Atlantic Canada right now, there is no one in Atlantic Canada who could resign for him if he won the leadership,” he explained.

The poll also looked at which party Canadians favour, as well as the other leaders.

Mainstreet Research president Quito Maggi says Justin Trudeau and the Liberals continue to enjoy a healthy lead with 44 per cent, versus the Conservatives under interim leader Rona Ambrose at 32 per cent and the third place NDP under Tom Mulcair at 16 per cent.

Among NDP supporters, Thomas Mulcair is backed by 72 per cent while Elizabeth May’s approval is over 84 per cent with Green supporters.

Maggi adds as we start the new year, the government faces challenging economic factors and global uncertainty as they prepare for their first budget and that Justin Trudeau and his government continue to carry a great deal of goodwill with voters.

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