Reluctant Cullen tops poll

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Michael Cullen is the public's preferred choice to succeed Helen Clark as Labour leader, followed closely by Foreign Minister Phil Goff.

Blokish backbencher John Tamihere is the third most favoured, according to the results of the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey.

With huge approval ratings (56 per cent as preferred Prime Minister in the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey of 800 respondents) Helen Clark is not considered under threat, nor is she thought to be contemplating voluntary retirement.

The party's attack weapon, Education Minister Trevor Mallard, is next favoured.

He is higher than the No 3 in Labour's rankings, Social Development Minister Steve Maharey, who is often portrayed as the party's key intellectual guide.

Mr Maharey is also the minister often cited as one with his eye on the top job should the post become vacant.

Unlike Dr Cullen's transtasman counterpart Peter Costello, whose ambitions to succeed John Howard are openly acknowledged, Dr Cullen has always said he has no ambition to be Prime Minister.

Labour colleagues say he would be only a temporary leader if Helen Clark were suddenly incapacitated through, for example, a speeding motorcade or a malfunctioning aeroplane.

Despite frequent foreign travel, Mr Goff maintains a high domestic profile with his justice portfolio.

He was considered the leader of the right faction of the caucus before Labour gained power in 1999.

Mr Tamihere's indiscretions in deriding colleagues on the left gained him plenty of public support but weakened his own internal support and that of the right faction.