ONE News Colmar Brunton Poll: Dec 2007 

The final ONE News Colmar Brunton poll for the year has a chasm opening up between Labour and National, and Helen Clark playing second fiddle to John Key as preferred Prime Minister.

Labour has certainly been on the receiving of some negatively publicity lately with anger at a new law clamping down on political advertising and Trevor Mallard lashing out both at Tau Henare and whistle blower Erin Leigh.

National with 54% is so far ahead of Labour it could govern alone.

Labour is miles behind with 35% of the vote.

The Greens have dropped under the five percent threshold indicating that they will have no seats in Parliament.

New Zealand First and the Maori Party are still not really registering at two percent, and Act on one.

In the preferred Prime Minister category again the trend is bad for Labour with John Key creeping up and Helen Clark dropping back.

Key's the preferred Prime Minister with 35% and Clark on 30%.

When it comes to the economy just 31% of us believe the economy will improve over the next year. Twenty eight percent think things will stay the same and 41% expect think the economy will go backwards.

That's a significant drop off since the last poll with people ending the year feeling more negative about the economy.

For Labour it is a nightmare start to summer and with the tide also going out on its Green partner.

The government will have to throw everything it's got at voters next year or face the fact its long ride in power is finally over.