Audrey Young: Bill English gets his wish as Jacinda Ardern 'stardust' appears to settle in new poll

Prime Minister Bill English. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Bill English has got his wish.

The stardust around Jacinda Ardern has settled, if we are to believe Newshub's poll tonight putting National so far ahead it could govern on its own.

It is difficult to believe that National would be able to govern alone after this election, although not impossible if the wasted vote is high.

But it is not difficult to believe that National's fightback over Labour's tax plans - plans to be confirmed in 18 months' time - have stopped Ardern's rise and that this election is still anybody's.

Paula Bennett's ripping into gangs may have helped.

And National's plan to cut the benefit of young people who refuse take up the offer of work experience may have helped.

It is even possible that while Steven Joyce has been labelled "a fool" for his hyperbole about an $11.7 billion hole in Labour's fiscal plans, voters paid some attention to the bank economists who said Labour had budgeted virtually nothing extra to spend over the next four years, except on education and health.

The other factor is English himself. Boring but dependable, he has had more exposure in the past two weeks than he has had in the past nine months as the guy who had to step into John Key's shoes as Prime Minister.

Ardern has had nothing short of a brilliant campaign (except for tax) in her short six weeks as leader to put herself in contention as the next Prime Minister.

She is still in contention, of that there can be no doubt.

It makes every day count and the last leaders' debate next Wednesday all the more crucial.