Campaign diary: Promotion but likely demotion

Jester to the end

Before yesterday's Cabinet meeting - the last of the present Parliament - Corrections Minister Matt Robson placed leaflets promoting Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton on the circular table in front of each of the Labour ministers. Robson joked that his party would be interested in a coalition deal with Labour if Labour won enough seats on Saturday. But it may have been the last chance for the jokester to play his tricks on Cabinet colleagues. With his party polling around 1 per cent in the lead-up to the election, he is unlikely to be sitting at the table after the weekend.

Head on a stick

Not all the argy-bargy was on camera during the Holmes leaders' debate on Monday night. Following questioning about the future of Young Nicks Head, Prime Minister Helen Clark quipped during the commercial break: "It'll be young Bill's head they'll want after Saturday."

Slipping up

It seems someone at Act headquarters pushed the wrong button the other night, sending out copies of a confidential email to all and sundry. The campaign bulletin was not terribly revealing. However, it did show that Act encourages its supporters to ring up talkback radio and "lead those discussions". So next time you're listening ...

Just GM?

It seems the Brits have worked out just what the election on Saturday is all about. Britain's Guardian newspaper has reported it as the world's first GM election. Correspondent Jonathan Watts reports that New Zealand is one of the last countries in the world where the entire food production is GM-free. And he says the outcome of the "furious" debate on genetic modification is as likely to decide the balance of power as security, health or the economy. Watts says the debate has pitched organic farmers against the agrochemical lobby, university students against business leaders and husbands against wives.

What the polls say

The news just keeps getting worse for National leader Bill English. A new poll shows that his once-firm hold on the Clutha-Southland electorate is under threat. A Southland Times survey of 500 voters shows there is less than 5 percentage points separating Mr English and Invercargill-based Labour Party candidate Lesley Soper. The poll also shows Labour is winning the party vote in the electorate.

Where the leaders are:

* Helen Clark campaigns in Dunedin.

* Bill English visits Christchurch.

* Winston Peters holds a public meeting in Auckland.

* Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons campaigns in Auckland and the Coromandel; colleague Rod Donald visits Taranaki, Wanganui and Palmerston North.

* Richard Prebble campaigns in the Hawkes Bay.

* Jim Anderton attends a Waitakere Grey Power forum and launches Innovation Greenhouse in Porirua.

* Laila Harre attends the same Grey Power forum.

* Peter Dunne appears on breakfast television before going on a walkabout in Aotea Square, Auckland

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