Gap closes between Key and Goff in poll

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Gap closes between Key and Goff in poll

3News NZ

The polls were always going to close, but National will be nervous

The polls were always going to close, but National will be nervous

By Duncan Garner

The first television poll of the election is out; the latest 3 News Reid Research Poll shows the gap between the National and Labour Party’s narrowing with just 27 days to go until the election.

It comes on the day National launched its campaign for a second term in office and a disruptive start to National's campaign launch.

Protestors marched out their gripe, saying there are too many kids living in poverty.

The protest marks a rocky month for Prime Minister John Key.

He was criticised for the government's slow reaction to the Rena’s grounding on Tauranga’s Astrolabe Reef, saying “we did everything we could”.

He was then accused of not telling the truth over the government's two credit downgrades and his explanations were not convincing.

The polls were always going to close, but National will be nervous.

This is its biggest drop since it took office three years ago.

The gap is still 22 points but once you add the Greens and the possible return of Winston Peters, things get tighter for National.

But the Greens do not think Mr Peters, who launched his campaign today, will make it and are urging people not to vote for him.

National will need every vote; it is why Mr Key is likely to tell National voters to back ACT’s John Banks in Epsom to get Don Brash back into parliament.

We also asked voters how are Mr Key and Mr Goff performing.

Amongst those who say Mr Key is performing well, he slumps just over five points.

And more people think he is doing a poor job.

But he is still well ahead of Mr Goff. More people think the Labour leader is performing well, but at same time more people think he is doing a poor job.

So it is not just the handshake that was awkward.

If this poll is a trend, putting together a government might become just as awkward.

3 News

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Comments

31/10/2011 9:26:17 p.m.

KC wrote:

Duncan hasnt caught up with or isnt allowed to comment on the rise of the Colin Craig led Conservative Party in relation to the tanking of Act.

31/10/2011 8:05:56 p.m.

Shamus wrote:

you see, a while ago National wanted to build some new trains which is great news. but instead of hiring young new zealanders just out of their apprentaships and keen for good work, National sold us out again to the Chinese. although their contract may have benn cheaper its still the wrong thing to do, its happening too much under this government. And further to that matter, is it really that much cheaper offering it to the chinese? because if it had stayed in NZ then that would mean more money staying here and more cash for workers and better for the economy

31/10/2011 4:29:01 p.m.

Andre wrote:

Can you please post the actual poll results... like how many of those polled were still undecided for example. We are all sick of hearing pollsters say that John Key has "60%" of the electorate's backing, only to find that a quarter of those asked have yet to form an opinion - lowering his backing to only 45% for example. Most media in NZ have written off our chances of gaining a non-National government and this is just undemocratic and biased reporting.

31/10/2011 2:31:10 p.m.

julia wrote:

fantastic news! come on new zealand, we deserve so much better than what the national government will do to us if they get in again. i don't want to live in a country that is run on their values.

31/10/2011 2:55:57 a.m.

swordfish wrote:

Yeah, I have to agree with the Greens when they advise against wasting votes on NZ First. Sad to see the latter's support rising by half a percentage point in this poll. Labour need to make it clear to would-be NZF voters that they (Labour) are the only effective voting option as far as opposing Asset Sales and Foreign Ownership of Farms goes.

Peters has no chance and his supporters are really just throwing their vote down the gurgler.

31/10/2011 12:57:32 a.m.

Nina wrote:

I agree with the first poster, Key is the smiling assassin, kissing babies on one hand and slapping the hard working over taxed parents with the other one. Does he really think us on the bread line buy his bull, try living our lives, with our wages and tax whilst raising kids and get back to me. If he would pull his brown nose out of Americas butt crack he would see the real state off our nation. I hope he keeps up this stupid behavior so he really does show himself up as the smarmy creep he really is

30/10/2011 11:48:05 p.m.

Hamish wrote:

Good stuff, NZ is starting to wake up! Even the blind can see nationals policies for what they are, pure greed, control and domination by an elitist group that dont give a crap for us or our kids.

30/10/2011 10:40:23 p.m.

mark wrote:

So with a 20% lead, national can and will still govern on its own. re clarkes comment about national creating a gap between the rich and the poor, cute idea but the rich dont actually need the governments help, there are very few kiwi businesses or people that have become rich by inheritance, its about hard work and long hours. The highest tax rate is still at 33% almost double what you pay if you earn under 48k pa, 3 times higher than $14k pa and below. As for undeserving most of those who earn the higher work the longer hours. You would be hard pushed to find a company director or local retailer working just 9 to 5. mon to fri. 80 to 120 hours per week is the usual standard, and often if it is husband and wife then the will do equal amonts of hours, still rarely below 60 hrs. If your going to slam the rich of new zealand you need to remember who is keeping this country alive. The top 5% of us are paying for the rest of you. One day i may even get a day off, to mooch but i doubt it, and dont begrudge a man a water feature, thats just petty.

30/10/2011 9:37:04 p.m.

Kiwi wrote:

The truth and the dilemma for Voting Kiwis is that National and Labour are as bad and as hypocritical as each other! 20 good, hard working men lying dead in a dark, cold, wet mine at Pike River could attest to that fact! Vote for the strongest opposition party!

30/10/2011 9:34:22 p.m.

Pam wrote:

Clarke it is people like you who are out of touch with reality that ultimately caused Quantas to lock down. You cannot get welfare and better working conditions without some cost to business and the economy, somewhere it ends. You have no idea of what makes an economy work or how to make it work. The economic situation is too fragile for big spend ups. Remember Key dos not accept his Prime minister pay, he gives it to charity. He does manage things well but does the job because he wants to, no other agenda. how many other MPs can say the same?