It is not just the TV polls showing National's not doing well in Mt Albert - Prime Minister John Key has revealed the party's own polling shows its candidate is well behind the field.
There are just four days of campaigning left in the by-election for Helen Clark's old Auckland seat. A poll at the weekend showed Labour's David Shearer is well ahead on 59 percent - compared to National's Melissa Lee on 21 percent and the Greens' Russel Norman on 15 percent.
Mr Key accepts her campaign could have been run better, and confirms the party's own polling is similar. He is accepting some of the blame for the flawed campaigned, and especially for Ms Lee being kept in dark over the controversial Waterview roading project.
Ms Lee was notably absent at a debate hosted by the Public Service Association last night, instead choosing to attend a smaller, quieter function in Avondale.
RadioLIVE / 3 News