She's profoundly unpopular. Her party has a litany of scandals and missteps. But Torontonians may not be ready to send Kathleen Wynne packing just yet.
That's the finding of "The Pulse of Toronto", an exclusive poll by DART Insight and Communications commissioned by NEWSTALK 1010.
A paltry 11% of Torontonians asked say they will absolutely vote Liberal in the provincial election set for June.
"These are clearly the worst polling numbers that I've seen in close to 30 years," says pollster John Wright. But he still sees a possible path to victory for Wynne.
45% of respondents say they are still open to voting for Wynne and the Liberals depending on what they see on the campaign trail.
"I think (Wynne) should be thinking she's on the right track, that sounds incredible to say...but I think she's got to play a very careful game," says Wright.
In her re-election pitch, he sees Wynne focusing on signature policies rather than on her leadership
Wright thinks voters are grappling with whether they're better off with the devil they know or the devil they don't.
"I don't think people know Patrick Brown. I think they only know that the (Progressive) Conservatives are telling us the same thing they've been telling us for the last two election campaigns. And I think that's why people are parking their numbers right now."
Wright says voters are also unsure about Andrea Horwath and the New Democrats, though the party was first to trumpet policies now being adopted by the Liberals, like pharmacare and a $15/hour minimum wage which Horwarth backed in April, 2016.
Questioned by NEWSTALK 1010 on Tuesday, Wynne said that her job is not to analyze polls.
Other highlights from "The Pulse of Toronto" from NEWSTALK 1010 and DART:
-70% of Torontonians believe all families should have access to fully-funded public daycare, 74% of those with kids
-61% don't want the province to move ahead with the $15/hour minimum wage rollout as-planned. 44% want a longer phase-in, 17% want to abandon it
-13% believe a $15/hour minimum wage will cost them their jobs
-24% will buy marijuana soon after it becomes legal
-43% oppose any licensed pot retailer in their neighbourhoods
-54% want more technology-driven learning in school
-60% believe some fundraising monies from schools in higher-earning neighbourhoods should be transferred to lower-income area schools to balance their budgets
-31% are bothered by people of colour eventually becoming the majority population of Toronto
DART Insight conducted an online survey of 814 Torontonians September 16-19, 2017. The poll is considered accurate +/- 3.9 percentage points 19 times out of 20. A full report with data tables can be found at dartincom.ca/polls.