By Duncan Garner
The whiners on the left won't like this, but John Key yesterday was bold and decisive; ruling out Winston Peters was his only option for the sake of his own credibility.
Key had no room to flip-flop on his 2008 position; he was never going to rule Peters in.
Key can't stand Peters and what he stands for. He'd rather be out of Parliament, lounging beside the pool without a job, than be held to daily ransom by Peters and his mob.
Key oozed confidence yesterday; he looked assured of his decision. It gives the public plenty of time to digest the options – and they are stark.
It's a choice of National, Act, United Future and probably the Maori Party versus Labour, New Zealand First and the Greens.
How the kia ora Greens could ever work with Peters I have no idea, but that's how I see the battle lines.
Peters has had the wind taken out of his sails by Key's decision. He's been kneecapped. He must now campaign for a centre-left Labour Government led by Prime Minister Phil Goff.
Winston's strength has always been that he could hold the two old parties to account. His major card was he could play either side. Key has taken that away - again. Key has made Peters look like yesterday's man - although it didn't take much.
I don't think Peters will make it back. I didn't think he would make it back before, I don't think he will make it back now. His only chance may be if Labour collapses to the low 20s and people look to Peters.
But Key looked like a leader yesterday. He's certainly stolen the march to start 2011. We've had his asset sales plan, budget cutbacks, the election date and his decision to rule out Peters.
He may not offer much else this year and the public service seems set to pay a heavy price, again.
With Labour we've had the ten dollar a week tax cut offer worth 1.3 billion dollars, and a promise to restore $400m in early childhood education cuts.
Goff will also tax the rich more but won't say by how much. He will also tax foreign money coming into the country but won't say how.
And he'll have Winston Peters calling the shots as his bridesmaid from the seat beside him. Would Peters want to be Treasurer again?
Sure, Goff's chance may have increased yesterday, he picks up another potential coalition partner for free. But Key is setting a challenge to the New Zealand voting public to give him a strong mandate. It's almost a threat. If you don't vote for me - you get Goff and Peters!
So the choices are stark. At least you know what you are voting for now.