Clark heads for national territory

Prime Minister Helen Clark headed for Blenheim today, campaigning in the Kaikoura electorate which Labour hopes to snatch from National on July 27.

Labour has put up former newspaper editor Brendon Burns in the seat, which is held by National's Lynda Scott with a 1486 majority.

Dr Scott took over from long-serving senior National MP Doug Kidd, who was Parliament's speaker during the last term of the National-led government.

Mr Kidd became a list MP before the last election and has now retired from politics.

National considers it a relatively safe seat, but Labour is hopeful because at the last election it gained more of the party vote -- 35 per cent against National's 33 per cent.

With Labour's nationwide support running at around 50 per cent, the party is anticipating that a strong campaign by Mr Burns, editor of the Blenheim-based Marlborough Express until he resigned to become a candidate, could tip out Dr Scott.

Miss Clark was due to visit Ashwood Park Retirement Home, the Blenheim Workingmen's Club and an engineering firm today.

Yesterday she started her campaign itinerary in Bluff's freezing weather, visiting seafood plants and eating oysters for lunch.

- NZPA

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