ONE News Colmar Brunton Poll: May 2007

Published: 6:10PM Sunday May 27, 2007 Source: One News

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Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Labour Party would be thrown out of office under the results of the latest ONE News Colmar Brunton poll.

The poll shows a massive swing to National, and its leader John Key has not only gone ahead of Clark as preferred prime minister, he is well out in front.

Compromising with National after getting a hiding over the anti-smacking bill looked a smart solution for Clark.

But was the announcement of the compromise the moment it become clear to voters that Key was a potential prime minister?

For the current PM, the troubles kept coming, or going in the case of Gordon Copeland who resigned from United Future.

Taito Phillip Field is an independent too, but the bribery he's accused of stems from his actions while a Labour MP.

All that has affected the parties dramatically. National scores a staggering 56% in the poll, a 25 point lead over Labour on just 31%.

The Greens escape relatively unscathed on 6%. The other parties are minor players - the Maori Party on 3%, New Zealand First on 2% and United Future on 1%.

The trend shows just how bad it is for Labour with National climbing seven points and Labour dropping by about the same amount.

Clark never really stops campaigning. She was asked by a young girl if, when she was young, she wanted to become prime minister.

"No, I would never have dreamed of becoming prime minister because no girl had ever become prime minister," Clark responded.

But it is a title she would lose on the poll numbers. Key has leapt ahead as preferred prime minister with 38% support, a sudden and commanding lead over Clark on 27%. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is a very distant third on 2%.

Looking at past results, Key has lept up nine points this month and Clark has taken a 10-point hit.

And while the Budget lifted the sharemarket, it hasn't helped economic confidence.

Those who believe the economy will improve total 31%. The same proportion think things will stay the same but nearly 40% of New Zealanders are preparing for harder times.

And the trend does show optimism dropping away and the number of people who are pessimistic increasing.

And while they won't admit it, it's a sentiment Labour MPs could well relate to right about now.

The poll surveyed 1000 eligible voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%.

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