National's Mt Albert by-election candidate Melissa Lee is refusing to
join in a debate with the other candidates tonight.
The
reason: she says the invite arrived too late. The subject: the super city, one
of the Government's priorities.
While Ms Lee says she is
too busy, the Greens and Labour say she should front up to the debate, at
Owairaka District School, as the super city legislation has been passed in
Parliament.
Ms Lee was out on the streets and in the cafes
today, trying to get her campaign back on track after her week from hell, during
which she suggested a new motorway would be a good thing as it would divert
South Auckland criminals out west.
But now she has being
accused of running scared from a local Mt Albert debate tonight with the other
candidates on her government's new super city plans.
"I
only found out late last night," she says. "I can't drop...plans to turn up
to this event."
One National Party insider told 3 News he
believes Ms Lee is being set-up tonight, and she cannot risk a repeat
performance of last week.
In fact, the candidates all got
late invites, and the Greens say she is running
scared.
"She should front up to the people of Auckland,"
says co-leader Russel Norman.
"I'm already talking to
people on their doorsteps about the super city issues," Ms Lee says in her
defence.
But then for the second time, Ms Lee's campaign
faltered badly – this time being lost for words when asked by 3 News why the
super city matters.
"A lot of people sort of have this idea that they are not going to have a say...when
we have this unitary, um, um...sorry, I have gone blank. The main thing that people are
concerned in Mt Albert is whether the 12...the 12...Oh god...sorry, sorry, sorry, let me start again. "
Mr Norman, who was campaigning in the
same shops, was showing her no mercy.
"The wheels are
coming off the Melissa Lee, National Party campaign, and it's coming down to David Shearer and Russel Norman."
Ms Lee is under huge pressure. She was picked
because National saw her as a high-flyer, but so far her performance has been
poor and her confidence is now clearly shaken.
3
News