No party is comfortable changing horses when it is in front; there is too much to lose. But Mr Key's ascension appears to be all gain for National. The party is polling much better with women and now heads Labour for the female vote in the poll published in the Weekend Herald. But the difference is less than four points, whereas National has a 25-point lead among men. A marked gender divide has developed in our politics.
There is now no discernible difference between National and Labour policy so what (most) women want is Labour's policies with a new leader - preferably younger, better looking and of the opposite gender to the current one. It's a no-brainer.
Put up Steve Maharey. On looks, obviously the most important consideration for voters, Maharey wins hands down. Consider;
I know faces. Maharey will get better looking as he ages. Think Paul Newman. Same colouring and skin tone. He also has an air of tragedy about him - women love it - and has proven he can swear with the best of them. Plus, according to my husband who, many moons ago, worked on his campaign team in Palmerston North - "he's a helluva nice guy".
Key is lop-sided and unremarkable. Symmetry is everything. Nice enough smile but lets face it, his current competition is very weak.
Yes. We could certainly stand more of Steve on our screens every night. And as Minister of Broadcasting he could surely wangle his way onto Dancing with the Stars. What a dream. That would clinch it.
Goff could do the gravitas stuff to keep the men happy thereby dispensing with the dreadful Cullen. Meanwhile Steve will be out and about helping the ladies swoon their way the to ballot box. Perfect.
Goodbye Helen and Michael.
5 comments:
"he's a helluva nice guy".
You Husband didn't do Sociology when Maharey was at Massey in the early 80s then? I thought he was a dickhead then. Must be the gender divide.
Brian Smaller
Except, Lindsay, how do you explain Muldoon, Moore, and Bolger?
Maharey is telegenic, but I don't think it works in his favour at all. Voters don't trust him. They think he's too smooth. Too smarmy.
One of the things that John Key has managed to overcome in the last year is his smirk. He used to make a good point, and then look a little bit smarmy about it. He's just replaced it with a grin, to the effect that people are much more warm to him.
Voters don't trust smarmy. They don't mind ugly--they seem to have flocked to strange-looking creatures for the last forty years.
If Key can overcome his smirk, Maharey can overcome his smarm.
He just needs to keep saying to himself, "First, do no smarm..."
Imagine what it might be like if the PM's job had to be filled by a blogger.
Though he is highly talented, David Farrar has the looks only a mother would like.
But look at Liarbore, they have Jordan Carter, Tony Milne and young Master Sleep.
The reds are well and truly buggered.
But consider those sexy Act boys.
Rick Giles, Mike and Clint Heine, and the ravishing Blair Mulholland!
Anon, shame we can't comment on yours.
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