Portia Simpson Miller greets Opposition Leader Bruce Golding at a Jamaica Labour Party banquet in this May 28, 2005 file photo. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Despite a 21 percentage point decline over an eight-month period, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is still ahead of Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, as the person who Jamaicans feel would do a better job as Prime Minister, according to a Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll.

Johnson and his team of researchers interviewed 1,008 eligible voters on October 28 and 29 in 84 communities across Jamaica's 14 parishes and found that 42 per cent of the sample group gave Mrs. Simpson Miller the thumbs up, while Mr. Golding trailed with 32 per cent. However, there was a 12 percentage point jump among the electorate who believe Mr. Golding would do a better job.

When the question was asked in March, 63 per cent of eligible voters gave Mrs. Simpson Miller the nod while 20 per cent sided with Golding.

Less support

In May, the Prime Minister's support dropped by eight percentage points to 55 per cent while Mr. Golding's backing remained constant.

On the question of who would do a better job as Prime Minister, undecided voters climbed from 15 per cent in March to 26 per cent in October, an 11 percentage point increase among voters who have joined those of like mind on the political fence.

The poll's margin of error is plus or minus three per cent.

Noting that the question is based primarily on a popularity contest, Johnson said: "The answers reflected the individual's popularity among Jamaicans".

Bill Johnson poll

As things stand now, who do you think would do a better job as Prime Minister?

Mar	May	Oct
Simpson Miller	63%	55%	42%
Golding	20%	20%	32%
Undecided	15%	24%	26%
Refused	2%	1%