A group that encourages voters to cast their ballots strategically has recommended NDP candidate Mira Oreck in the newly established riding of Vancouver Granville.

The recommendation by Leadnow comes despite recent poll results that show Oreck is trailing Liberal candidate Jody Wilson-Raybould.

“With local polling showing both the NDP and Liberal candidate ahead of the Conservative, Vote Together pledge signers were asked to decide based on the latest polling data and a comparison of the party platforms on the issues that matter to the Leadnow community,” said a statement by the group Thursday.

“A clear majority of Vote Together pledge signers in Vancouver Granville voted to recommend NDP’s Mira Oreck as the best local candidate to defeat the Conservative.”

According to polls compiled on Vote Together’s website, Oreck led the riding with support from 36 per cent of decided voters in August.

She held that share into September, even as Wilson-Raybould crept up to 30 per cent.

Then in an October poll, Oreck dropped to 33 per cent, as Wilson-Raybould polled at 35 per cent.

A Mainstreet Research poll released this week had Wilson-Raybould with a wide lead on Oreck, 44 per cent to 28 per cent.

At poll aggregator ThreeHundredEight, the Liberal candidate was forecast to win with 89-per-cent certainty.

Leadnow rallies strategic voting by asking voters to pledge to vote together.

In the riding of Vancouver Granville, more than 5,400 people have pledged to be a part of Leadnow’s Vote Together campaign.

“With only four days left in the federal election, this recommendation shows that people in Vancouver Granville are prepared to unite to defeat Conservatives,” Leadnow elections campaign manager Amara Possian said.

“Now we start mobilizing to get out the vote for the NDP’s Mira Oreck, who has been chosen by voters who want change.”

Leadnow did not return a call Thursday from The Province, but did respond to social media queries from those asking why the group was recommending a candidate who appeared to be falling in the polls.

“Both the NDP and the LPC can win. We asked our community to decide which to back & they chose the NDP candidate,” a tweet from Leadnow said.

In response to those asking about a Liberal lead in polls, Leadnow called it a “tie.”

“Our most recent polls show a tie in the riding. Our community chose to back the NDP,” the group tweeted.

Oreck has previously contributed to Mayor Gregor Robertson’s campaign, and worked on U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

Currently, Oreck works with the Broadbent Institute, a policy-based organization founded by former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent.

To date, Leadnow has recommended 23 NDP and Liberal candidates across the country.

Oreck’s recommendation was part of the second of three rounds of recommendations being released by the Vote Together campaign.

As of Thursday, Leadnow had recommended candidates in eight B.C. ridings. All eight B.C. candidates recommended by the group are New Democrats. Nine other ridings are currently being polled.

sip@theprovince.com

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