Local poll reveals a slump in support for Nats

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Election polls ... swear by them or ignore them? Love them or hate them?

Maybe it depends on what they are saying ...

Either way, there's no escaping them - even though we all know there's only one poll that counts.

Two national polls yesterday gave the National Party a commanding lead heading into the September 20 election.

The Chronicle has just run a website poll on voting preferences here in Wanganui and, curiously, it is at odds with the national results.

We wouldn't claim any great scientific veracity in our poll and, perhaps like all such litmus tests of public opinion, it should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The most remarkable figure in our poll is the drop in support for National.

When we ran a similar poll in April, their support registered 51 per cent; this week it came in at just 39 per cent, while Labour's rating has risen from 17.5 per cent in April to 28 per cent.

Does it mean the Dirty Politics furore has meant more in Wanganui than elsewhere? Does it reflect the vigorous campaigning of Labour candidate Hamish McDouall? Is incumbent Chester Borrows' 5000-plus majority from 2011 under real threat? Again, we shouldn't set too much store by it.

Our poll also saw NZ First heading the Greens who are not fielding a candidate in either Whanganui or Rangitikei, while the Conservative Party, who have a man in both electorates, are up from 2 per cent to 5 per cent.

Mr Borrows will no doubt take heart from the national results which have his party over the 50 per cent mark, and he can also take consolation from another poll which asked people what sort of professions should be represented in Parliament.

It showed we want fewer lawyers, trade unionists and economists among our MPs and more medical professionals and police officers. Mr Borrows is a former policeman.

For those still weighing up where to put their tick, the Chronicle holds its Meet the Candidates public forum next Friday at the Wanganui War Memorial Centre.

If you have a question you want putting to the candidates, email it to: editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz and say if it is for a specific candidate.