KEY POINTS:
John Key had a series of glossy quotes to sell himself when he faced the media yesterday, but it is his caucus colleagues he needs to convince that he is ready to be their next leader.
Mr Key, the affable 45-year-old who has long been tipped as Don
Brash's successor, threw his hat into the ring for the National leadership within minutes of Dr Brash's resignation.
The former high-flying investment banker told reporters that he could bring "a modern, dynamic, aspirational leadership" to National.
"I think I can make a great contribution, but it's for my caucus colleagues to decide and I'll be taking nothing for granted."
Opinion polls show Mr Key is popular with the public and he has enjoyed a good relationship with the media during his 4 1/2 years in Parliament.
The MP for Helensville was credited with being one of the best - if not the best - campaigner at last year's election, taking on formidable opponent Michael Cullen in the tax debate and emerging from it well.
But Mr Key's critics frequently refer to him being "untested".
They doubt whether he has the ability to traverse the range of issues that a leader must confront.
"People are uncertain what he stands for," one long-time MP said yesterday. Another said Mr Key was very clever in his field of expertise, but in politics his chosen field of finance was a narrow one.
Mr Key is viewed as more centrist than Dr Brash, and should he win the leadership, his style could prove more palatable to young and female voters.
But a shift to the centre also risks turning off some of the hard-right support that Dr Brash drew to National.
Business Roundtable executive director Roger Kerr yesterday praised Dr Brash's contribution to National, and wouldn't be drawn when asked who should succeed him.
"I wouldn't have a comment on potential candidates," Mr Kerr said.
The Roundtable was concerned about policy, rather than the person who delivered it, he said.
National is still developing policy in several important areas.
Mr Key has shown himself to be a strong supporter of tax cuts, and reducing the size of government departments has also featured in his huge number of press releases.
He played a role in convincing Dr Brash to keep the Government's so-called Cullen fund should National win power. He has shown an acknowledgement of and keenness to address climate change that makes him look more of a believer on that issue.
Mr Key attended the recent presentation by former US vice-president Al Gore on climate change and has described the issue as a serious one which could have severe ramifications for New Zealand's economy.
Parliamentary colleagues describe Mr Key as pragmatic, and suspect that he will be better at avoiding gaffes than Dr Brash proved to be.
Already he is taking a careful approach to his attempt to win the leadership, emphasising that he would never presume the support of his colleagues.
The first pothole Mr Key may have to negotiate is one created by Nicky Hager's book The Hollow Men.
Hager asserts his book proves Mr Key knew about the Exclusive Brethren's plans to drop anti-Green and anti-Labour pamphlets well before he has previously admitted knowing.
Mr Key has continued to deny this.
JOHN KEY
RESUMÉ
* 45 years old.
* Born in Auckland, educated in Christchurch.
* Former investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Held positions in several major international cities, rose to being in charge of a number of business units including global foreign exchange.
* Self-made multimillionaire.
* Married to Bronagh, with two children.
Returned to New Zealand in 2001 and won Helensville seat in 2002.
