Re: Rankin tops byelection poll for NDP (News, Nov. 28)
While Murray Rankin should be congratulated on winning the recent federal byelection for the NDP, I think a note of statistical reality is in order.
A clear majority (56.1 per cent) of the 88,886 eligible voters in the Victoria riding, including me, chose not to go to the polls to vote for any of the six candidates contesting the seat.
Rankin obtained the support of just 16.3 per cent of eligible voters, while Green candidate Donald Galloway got 15 per cent, Conservative Dale Gann had 6.5 per cent, Liberal Paul Summerville 5.7 per cent and Libertarian Art Lowe and Christian Heritage candidate Philip Ney gained 0.2 per cent each.
There is no question Rankin won the seat fair and square under the rules of the political game. But the fact remains he is going to Ottawa after obtaining the support of fewer than one in six of the eligible voters in this constituency.
Gordon Pollard
Victoria