The One Bermuda Alliance has clawed back a slim margin of popularity with voters after a poll one year ago had a 40 per cent majority throwing their support behind the Progressive Labour Party.

The Global Research poll from December 2014 also showed a small increase in the number of black voters who said they supported the OBA, up to 17 per cent.

However, in a result that will surprise few residents, Bermuda’s voting population remains highly polarised by race.

The economy and unemployment were the top concern of voters, by an overwhelming majority: 57 per cent identified this category as the biggest issue confronting the Island.

Trailing well behind was crime, at 15 per cent, followed by education, at 7 per cent.

This year, the phone survey of voters showed 40 per cent backing the OBA, against 33 per cent voicing support for the PLP — up from the 25 per cent favouring the ruling party in May 2014, versus 40 per cent for the PLP.

In that respect, the OBA’s change in leadership appears to have paid off: a majority of voters held an unfavourable view of former Premier Craig Cannonier last May. The survey closed on the same day Mr Cannonier stepped down over the “Jetgate” scandal that had roiled the OBA over the past year.

Just seven months later, his successor, Michael Dunkley, was viewed favourably by 48 per cent of voters — 83 per cent of white voters, and 30 per cent of black voters.

Mr Dunkley’s performance as Premier got the approval of 40 per cent of voters, with a white-black make-up of 64 per cent to 28 per cent respectively.

Overall, 30 per cent of voters said they had a favourable impression of Opposition Leader Marc Bean — virtually all of them identifying themselves as black.

Just one per cent of white voters said they approved of Mr Bean, versus nearly half of black voters, at 46 per cent.

Twenty-eight per cent said they approved of Mr Bean’s performance, while 24 per cent said they strongly disapproved.

Mr Bean’s approval figures from December showed a drop on results from November 2013, when a full 48 per cent of voters said they had a favourable impression of him.

As for the OBA itself, a significant percentage of voters — 22 per cent — expressed strong disapproval of the party’s performance, while 28 per cent approved.

There was 22 per cent approval for the PLP’s performance.

In terms of the recession, 27 per cent of voters expressed confidence in the direction of Bermuda’s economy.

While 16 per cent described themselves as “not at all confident”, the poll suggests a rise on the figures late in the OBA’s first year in power.

Just 15 per cent of voters expressed confidence in Bermuda’s economy in that survey, while 48 per cent of registered voters described themselves as not confident.

That poll in November 2013 showed three quarters of voters believing that the business community was “not doing all it could to share sacrifices”. The earlier poll also suggests that Mr Cannonier’s short tenure as Premier was troubled early in the OBA’s time in office.

In that poll, 24 per cent of voters approve of Mr Cannonier’s performance as Premier, versus 34 per cent saying they disapproved. The number of people voicing absolute certainty that they would vote in a parliamentary election has remained fairly constant.

In November 2013, 47 per cent said they were absolutely certain, with 36 per cent “very likely” to vote. In December 2014, 51 per cent said they were absolutely certain, and 29 per cent said they were “very likely”.

In general, while the opinions of registered voters have fluctuated, the Global Research poll shows voter intentions remaining much the same over the first two years of the OBA administration.

At the time of the December 2012 election, 39 per cent voted OBA against 34 per cent PLP — against 40 per cent in favour of the ruling party and 33 per cent pro-PLP in December 2014.