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Intimidating poll figures have not deterred people from putting themselves forward as Labour electorate candidates, party president Mike Williams says.
Most opinion polls give National a commanding lead over Labour, although last week's Herald-DigiPoll survey showed Labour had clawed back a double-digit gap to a much narrower margin.
"This is the third time I have done this, and I have had more people come up and identify themselves as potential Labour candidates than ever before," Mr Williams said. "At least twice as many as last time. Frankly, there is an embarrassment of riches out there."
Labour also potentially faces an embarrassment of incumbents, with some long-serving sitting MPs ignoring hints they should retire at the next election. The party has said it expected 8 to 10 of the MPs from the class of 2005 to retire: two have already left Parliament, Taito Philip Field has become an independent MP, and four other MPs have said they will stand down in 2008.
Potential candidates originally had until this Friday to put their names forward for selection. However, that deadline has been extended to November 9 - a week after the Labour Party conference, and probably also after a much anticipated Cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Williams said the extension was decided by the party's governing council, to allow more time for potential candidates to find seats to stand for.
"It was all going to be a bit too rushed. Labour-held seats and Mangere were the ones that got pushed back. There really wasn't enough time between them and the others, because a lot of people will nominate for Labour-held seats but then take a less winnable one ... we have a strong preference for people to stand in electorates as well as for the party list."
Mr Williams said he usually waited until new electorate boundaries had been released before he asked Labour MPs to declare if they would stand again. The boundary announcement was made last week, but Labour has not held a caucus meeting since.
"From back channel chat I would think 8-10 would be a reasonable number to expect to retire," he said.
Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope, who resigned from Cabinet in July following the Madeleine Setchell row, was expected to put his name forward as a candidate, Mr Williams said. "He says yes. He's most adamant about that, and you can only take these people at their word."
Rick Barker and Russell Fairbrother, who lost the Tukituki and Napier seats respectively last election, were likely to put their names forward for those seats again, Mr Williams said.
George Hawkins and Ross Robertson, MPs often tipped as among those who may stand down in 2008, had also indicated they would stand for selection.
Labour would put forward strong candidates in the new seats of Rangitata and Botany, Mr Williams predicted. Julian Blanchard, who in 2005 polled 11,000 votes in the National stronghold of Ilam, had already put his name forward for the new South Island seat, and there was a strong Labour presence in Botany.
"We've got quite a strong branch out that way with a lot of Chinese people in it. I wouldn't be surprised if you see a Chinese candidate pop up there. I think you will see a good Chinese candidate well up on the list this time, and we would also like that person to run for a seat."
Four candidates, including Labour's 2005 Whangarei candidate Paul Chalmers, were in the running for the Wellington seat of Rimutaka, currently held by Paul Swain.
Current list MP Sue Moroney was expected to put her name forward for the Hamilton East seat of departing MP Dianne Yates, while fellow list MP Charles Chauvel is likely to put his name forward for the Wellington Central seat held by retiring MP Marian Hobbs. He will face a strong challenge from former Prime Ministerial adviser Grant Robertson.
"That will be a real fight, in a very gentlemanly way," Mr Williams said.
