The Provincial Leaders Debate was held last night, September 27, in Toronto. Ipsos Reid surveyed Ontario voters immediately after the debate on how the party leaders performed and how they argued their viewpoints. Below is a breakdown of the Ipsos Reid survey:

• Half (49%) believe that Dalton McGuinty sounded and acted the most like a Premier, still well ahead of Tim Hudak (27%) and Andrea Horwath (18%). One in twenty (5%) don’t know who fits this role the best.

• Andrea Horwath convinced 35% of viewers that she is the leader that has the best ideas and policies, followed closely by Dalton McGuinty (32%) and Tim Hudak (27%). Just 6% don’t know which leader has the best ideas and policies.

• Andrea Horwath (52%) was chosen by a majority for being the most likeable, that is, the person they would most want to go out for a beer or coffee with. McGuinty (22%) and Hudak (21%) battle it out for second place, while 5% of respondents don’t know.

• Andrea Horwath also wins (54%) as the leader who is most visually attractive, with McGuinty (18%) and Hudak (14%) well behind. One in ten (14%) don’t know. 

Focusing on specific issues, and who is best to lead on each, reveals that on many topics Tim Hudak lost ground to Andrea Horwath, who appears to have been bolstered by the previously undecideds moving into her camp:

• Economy – Dalton McGuinty (37%), Tim Hudak (34%), Andrea Horwath (15%), don’t know (14%).

• Healthcare – Andrea Horwath (35%), Dalton McGuinty (33%), Tim Hudak (22%), don’t know (10%).

• Taxes – Tim Hudak (36%), Andrea Horwath (24%), Dalton McGuinty (23%), don’t know (16%).

• Education – Dalton McGuinty (37%), Andrea Horwath (29%), Tim Hudak (22%), don’t know (11%).

• Environment – Dalton McGuinty (37%), Andrea Horwath (28%), Tim Hudak (14%), don’t know (23%).

• Debt/Deficit reduction – Tim Hudak (34%), Dalton McGuinty (27%), Andrea Horwath (16%), don’t know (23%).