Campaign diary: Ta for the memories, Margaret

Filling the silence

Labour Minister Margaret Wilson was forced to kill 20 minutes before a big Tauranga crowd waiting for Prime Minister Helen Clark, who was delayed. Ms Wilson stalled by sharing the story of her life, how she got into politics and even her struggle with cancer, which resulted in the amputation of her leg. Luckily for her (and the crowd), the Prime Minister arrived and brought the story to an end. Ms Wilson later joked that her leader had arrived in the nick of time because her next topic was her sexual awakening.

Sugar with that?

Members of the Diplomatic Protection Squad spend long hours following Prime Minister Helen Clark on the campaign trail.

They stand out with their smart suits and earpieces, and the fact they spend most of their time talking into microphones in their sleeves. The most innovative use of the hidden mike was noticed by reporters at a public meeting this week. One squaddie whispered "sugar and milk" down his sleeve. A colleague soon delivered him a nice hot cup of tea and a bickie.

What the polls say

A new TV3/NFO poll issued last night has Labour down two points in the wake of the corngate scandal. The poll, conducted between July 11 and 16, put Labour at 46 per cent, down from 48. National climbed one point to 25. New Zealand First and Act were steady on 8 and 6 per cent respectively. The Green party rose one point to 9 per cent. The Alliance picked up slightly to 1.4, and the Progressive Coalition scored 0.7, down 0.1. Christian Heritage recorded 1 per cent support and United Future NZ 0.7 per cent. The majority of the polling was conducted before United Future leader Peter Dunne tamed the worm on the Holmes TV debate.

On the box

The leaders of the six minority parties head to Avalon Studios in the Hutt valley tonight for a live television debate. The Holmes show election special, starting at 7pm, will focus on coalitions and who wants to do a deal with whom.

Where the leaders are:

Helen Clark campaigns in Wellington and Nelson.

Bill English visits Blenheim and Christchurch.

Winston Peters holds a public meeting at the Wellington Cathedral complex.

Green co-leader Rod Donald meets Grey Power on the North Shore; colleague Jeanette Fitzsimons campaigns in the Coromandel.

Richard Prebble visits Palmerston North.

Jim Anderton prepares for his Television New Zealand debate.

Laila Harre spends the morning in Waitakere before attending a Grey Power meeting on the North Shore.

Peter Dunne attends a meeting in Tawa.