Transtasman Political Letter – 9 Sept. Digest

9th September 2005

Will it be a photo-finish on the night?….Signs are pointing that way…Nats are still in there, but who’s their dancing partner…Peter Dunne puts his hand up, Winston Peters, after a zero for his solo, wants to tango…Rodney Hide is waiting a turn, but may be left a wallflower…Who wants a Honda, when a Ferrari’s on offer.

A Tight Drag Race, Running on High Octane

Despite wildly fluctuating polls it’s still a tight drag race, with the election going down to the wire. On Wednesday Centrebet was quoting Clark at $1.70 and Brash at $1.80. By Thursday morning Brash had slipped to $2.00 with Clark still on $1.70.

Peters Declares Himself At Last: But Is It Too Late?

This campaign is like none of the preceding MMP elections: previously third parties were in the contest, they claimed, because only they could keep the major parties “honest.” But voters don’t buy it anymore.

Looking Like A Ferrari

Under pressure from fluctuating poll ratings, Finance Minister Cullen stepped up his attacks on National’s tax cut policy this week.

A Lifeline For Dunne — But Not Yet For Hide

While NZ First is scrambling to get back into the electoral race, United Future and ACT were also looking this week to connect themselves to a life support machine.

CAPITAL TALK

Phillip Gibson has been appointed as the new Ambassador to Jakarta replacing Chris Elder.

PLAY OF THE WEEK
Conventional Wisdom Goes AWOL

If you applied the conventional wisdom to the election this would be Labour’s in a cakewalk. The slogan “it’s the economy stupid” has become an unthinking mantra among too many political commentators, who tend to forget after it was coined by Bill Clinton’s campaign manager in 1992, a run of elections actually proved it wrong.

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