A public opinion poll conducted by 3 News and Reid Research has shown that the voting public may play a crucial role in the outcome of next year’s general election.
The poll, which showed virtually no change from its predecessor, cast a dramatic new light on the upcoming election, said 3 News Political Editor Patrick Gower.
“Have no doubt, Labour and the Greens have made a big, big move in our poll today,” he said, standing in front of a large screen with numbers on it. “Both parties have risen dramatically to close that ever-dwindling gap with National.”
Labour gained 2.9% in the poll, taking them to 33.1%, while the Greens gained 0.5%, taking them to 12%.
That put Labour’s gains nearly outside the poll’s 3.2% margin of error, a development Gower described as “huge.”
“Now, let’s envisage just one possible scenario,” he said, using his fingers to slide a series of arbitrary symbols across the interactive screen. “National pays all its fees and stays on the ballot for the next election. Now, let’s say, just for argument’s sake, that Labour does the same. Both parties are now on the ballot, which puts both Labour and National within reach of forming a government. What happens then? Well Carolyn, at that point, it might just be up to the public.”
“But that leaves us with the question; is the public with National, or are they with Labour? Or, perhaps, are they with the Greens? What does the public think of Metiria Turei? Does the public prefer baths, or showers? Why is it the public never gives me a straight answer? When is someone going to get sacked?”
Gower proceeded down this line of questioning for several minutes.
“How is it,” he said, “that in our poll, the public has given Winston Peters 2% of the vote, when 98% of the public wouldn’t give him 2%? Some interesting questions.”
“When do I get my own TV show?” he added, before throwing back to a rattled Carolyn Robinson.