Clark attacks Key's experience
Clark attacks Key's experience
Labour leader Helen Clark took aim at the National leader saying John Key lacked the experience to deal with the economic crisis.
After week one of the campaign that saw Labour pledge hundreds of millions on student allowances, housing and helping beneficiaries, the promises have stopped.
"I haven't come here today to announce any more significant spending initiatives - nor do I plan to announce more. This election is about who New Zealanders trust to move our economy forward," Helen Clark tells party faithfuls in Wellington on Sunday.
The economy is now centre stage in this campaign as Clark preached to the party faithful, Key was on the front-foot calling for a short term bi-partisan approach. But Labour had a one track mind on the long term.
"A change to a leader with the learner wheels on no longer seems as it might have even a few weeks ago. At times like these premium value is attached to to those who have experience and judgement," says Clark.
And Labour is still behind in all the major polls but has made ground on National in the last few weeks.
The party got out of the blocks quickly at its campaign launch last Sunday, but they know they have to keep up that momentum if they are going to stay in touch with National.
Labour is now buying a fight with National over trust.
"In recent weeks we've seen our opponents utterly fail to grasp the reality of the international crisis. They've carried on with slogans crafted by their Australian spin doctors many months ago," Clark railed.
Labour's attack on National is food for thought for voters and
it will be their staple diet until November 8.
Labour catches up
Labour gains support in the latest opinion poll and has closed
the gap on National, but it still has a long way to go to have a
real chance of retaining power on November 8.
A Colmar Brunton poll released on Sunday shows National down one point to 50% support and Labour up three points to 36%.
The gap was 14 points compared with 18 a week ago.
On 50% support National would have 61 seats in Parliament and Labour 44.
There is little change in support for the minor parties, although the Greens are down slightly and will gain seven seats instead of the10 they would have had a week ago.
Sunday's survey indicates Labour's strong start in the campaign and its policy announcements, including the universal student allowance, are having an impact.
National did not start so strongly, although party leader John Key got his campaign back on track with a good performance in Tuesday's leaders debate.
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