ONE News Colmar Brunton Poll: Mar 2008 

Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Labour Party have mounted something of a comeback, narrowing the gap in this year's race with National for control of the Beehive.

It has been a bad month for National leader John Key and voters appear to have picked up on that in the latest ONE News Colmar Brunton poll.

Getting a straight answer from National has been difficult this month.

The government changed the law to limit foreign ownership of Auckland Airport and Key was asked if National agreed with that.

Key said National needed to look into the policy and Finance Minister Michael Cullen accused him of being indecisive on the issue.

If airports proved difficult, then MPs travel plans were almost impossible.

National MP Brian Connell was repeatedly asked by ONE News if he intends taking his wife on a taxpayer-funded trip to Europe. He avoided answering the question and slammed journalists.

However, reporters did get a very clear response to allegations that Winston Peters accepted shady political donations. The New Zealand First leader held up a sign reading "No" at a news conference.

So what signs are the signs from the latest poll?

National has taken something of a hit, down three points this month, although at 50% it is still well clear of Labour, which has edged up one point to 35%.

The Greens also pick up one point to 7%, but all the other minor parties are still well below the 5% threshold.

National would be able to govern alone on these poll numbers with 62 seats. Labour cannot stack up a government even if its 44 MPs team up with nine from the Greens and the four electorate seats held by the Maori Party. ACT, the Progessives and United Future all get one MP because they hold electorate seats. New Zealand First does not have that luxury and its seven seats would disappear from parliament altogether.

Clark scored a photo opportunity with country singer Shania Twain, although she plays second fiddle to Key in the preferred prime minister stakes. Key is on 36% but Clark has closed the gap on him, climbing four points to 31%. Five percent opt for Peters and while some commentators think Phil Goff should take over as Labour leader, less than 1% think he should lead the country.

On these poll numbers, that job goes to Key. He has looked less than comfortable this month and Clark will feel she cannot be counted out of this race just yet.

The poll sampled 1,000 people and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%