Campaign Diary: 1 day to go

Compiled by political editor John Armstrong

Straws in her whirlwind


Jenny Shipley whirlwinded through the four main centres yesterday as she tried to stop the tide going out on National. In Christchurch, she clutched at another straw, begging centre-right voters to forget Act and give National their party vote so it can out-poll Labour and become first port of call for the Governor-General after the election. Last straw of all is a National Bank survey showing rising business confidence. Too little, too late?


Last hurrah


Whoever wins, Sir William Birch will no longer be strolling Parliament's corridors in search of ears to bend. The old warhorse made his final trot through the Press Gallery yesterday morning, thanking journalists for giving him time over the years. Sir William was always keen to find an empty slot in a clogged diary to sway reporters to his way of thinking. He was typically rosy yesterday about National's chances, saying he does not sense a mood for change of 1975, 1984 or 1990 proportions.


And remember ...


It's the party vote that matters ... it's the party vote that matters ... it's the party vote that matters ...


WHAT THEY SAID


"I'm one hell of an uppity Maori."- Tuariki Delamere quotes a Herald description of him while defending his suspect immigration approvals as good for Maoridom.

"If he wants to put his head in the sand and leave his rear end wide open to international attack, that's his business." - Sir William Birch swipes at Michael Cullen over Aussie tax reform.


WHERE THEY'LL BE


Jenny Shipley campaigns in Wellington and Auckland; Helen Clark holds street-corner meetings across Auckland; Richard Prebble has his final rally in Wellington Central; Jim Anderton rides a bulldozer in his Wigram seat; Winston Peters stays in Tauranga.