National's candidate for Mt Albert, Melissa Lee, is at the centre of controversy again tonight, but this time it is over what she did not say.
Ms Lee refused to join a public debate with the other candidates, saying the invitation arrived too late and accusd the Green Party of a "stitch up".
Ms Lee was conspicuous by her absence, where one of her own party's priorities - the super city - was being debated. Instead she supplied a written statement to be read aloud by the chair, bringing derision and laughter from those present.
Ms Lee says she refused to take part because she was not given sufficient notice, and that she already had other plans.
ACT's John Boscawen however says it was late notice for everyone involved.
"I got 36 hours' notice," he says. "I presume Melissa Lee got the same, but I've changed my arrangements to be here this evening because I think it's very important I did so."
Ms Lee is being accused of running scared from the debate after her last one went badly. She was forced to issue a public apology after suggesting a new motorway would divert South Auckland criminals out west.
One National Party insider says he believes Ms Lee is being set up tonight, and she can not risk a repeat performance of last week.
But meeting or no meeting, Ms Lee's campaign faltered again today while she was explaining 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."
Green co-leader and candidate Russel Norman was quick to capitalise.
"I can understand how you can make mistakes, but at the end of the day the people of Mt Albert have got to make a judgment about who will best represent them in Parliament," says Mr Norman. "When you're under pressure things get revealed about whether you can do a good job or not."
Ms Lee is again under huge pressure. She was picked because National saw her as a high-flyer, but so far her performance has been poor.
Ms Lee will have the chance to rectify her no show tonight at a University of Auckland debate tomorrow. She will have to get back in the race soon though – it is only the first week of her campaign but already some National voters are talking about voting tactically to keep Labour out of Mt Albert rather than voting for Ms Lee.
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