Key return predicted – now that was easy!

Election Day is almost on us and it is has been my belief from the outset, or more accurately, since National was re-elected to office three years ago, that unless John Key and his party made some catastrophic error of judgment, National would be returned to power.

Over the past few weeks there’s been plenty of ruminating over the performances of all party leaders with some of the minor leaders definitely scoring brownie points here and there.

There has also been much said about the style of the two major party leaders John Key (National) and Phil Goff (Labour). Political commentators have analysed differences between the two men and the way in which they have (or have not) presented their policies and how they have tackled issues raised by each other.

There’s been the tea cup saga which really became somewhat tiresome. Perhaps what amazed me most was not the way in which Mr Key handled it or the differing opinions of how it should have been handled, but that it should have happened at all.

In this media-savvy age of politics, it’s unbelievable two seasoned politicians allowed themselves to be in that position and that they thought they carry out a private conversation in what was essentially a publicity seeking event. But enough said. I’m so over it.

Back to my long-standing election prediction. Frankly, it is based on nothing more than a view, and a somewhat illogical view, I have heard expressed many times by “ordinary” New Zealanders.

It seems to me, that as long as the country doesn’t appear to be going down the gurgler, and the Prime Minister is relatively well liked or at the very least respected for his/her leadership, then many New Zealanders are relaxed about a party, in power for three years, having another three years to “really prove themselves”.

Crunch time doesn’t appear to come around until at least the six year mark.

I cannot say how many times I’ve heard it said: “a party really needs a second term to get anything done” or “you can’t do much in three years.”