'World's ugliest' campaign wraps up

Herald Sun ^ | 7 November 2008 | Xavier La Canna

[Aussie Dasher]

NEW Zealanders will decide the fate of Prime Minister Helen Clark tomorrow following an election campaign branded "ugly" by global standards.

The latest polls show Ms Clark, whose Labour Government has been in power for nine years, is fighting for her political life.

She is up against National Party leader John Key who has doggedly pursued two boyhood ambitions – one to make a million dollars, the other to become New Zealand's prime minister.

The first he's managed with ease. His career as an investment banker has helped him amass a fortune of $NZ50 million ($43.7 million).

The second for Mr Key, who lists former Australian prime minister John Howard as one of his heroes, is now within reach.

A swag of new polls point to a National victory.

A Fairfax-Nielsen poll out today shows 49 per cent of respondents would prefer a National government, to Labour's 31 per cent.

Two other polls by television stations also put National way ahead of Labour. A Herald-DigiPoll survey pointed to a closer contest, but with National still leading.

With the wind of change having swept across the US, elevating Barack Obama to the presidency, Mr Key, too, is talking up the need for a fresh page and a new start.

[Aussie Dasher]

Well, they DO have the ugliest Prime Minister!

Gotta win one eventually even if it is only bloody New Zealand...

[ari-freedom]

please dump that anti-semitic commie

[dfwgator]

Well anyone who lists John Howard as a hero has got to be a good guy. Go Key Go!

[Oztrich Boy]

With the wind of change having swept across the US, elevating Barack Obama to the presidency, Mr Key, too, is talking up the need for a fresh page and a new start

In EnZed where the electoral system guarantees incumbents a seat as long as they want?

[Jeff Chandler]

World's ugliest' campaign wraps up

The Winner

[Tennessee Nana]

In NZ...

National = Republican

Labour = Democrat

And Helen Clark is an idiot...

I met her once and was unimpressed...

She crawls to the “multicutural” crowd, etc..

[Perahelion]

I’ll agree with the ugliest comment.

And in Australasia we’re turning against the socialists.

In Australia since the Federal Election we’re tossing out Labor state Governments, the state of Western Austalia has already gone and the polls are against all the other Labor states.

Bring it on.

[DemonDeac]

New Zealand is easily the most beautiful country i’ve ever been to. The South Island is incredible.

[Pining_4_TX]

I’ve always had that goal, too. (Well, the one about making a million dollars; not the one about being prime minister of New Zealand.)

It just never quite seemed to work out for me, though. Rats!

[Lizavetta]

Have you seen the 'camel toe' pic? It's quite appealing....if you don't mind your First Ladies looking like Lirlene at Bubba's Bar and Grill.