Does it matter who’s the better talker in a leaders’ debate? Does even one vote move into the correct column on November 7?
Today, the Raw Politics panel discusses not only the aftermath of Chris Hipkins’ anointed ‘win’ in the first big TV debate with Christopher Luxon but also how as winner and loser they should approach round 2, next Wednesday.
Join senior political reporter Marc Daalder and associate editor Sam Sachdeva in Wellington and Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy in Auckland as they try to sift fact from fiction in the great political game of parties accusing one another of covering up fiscal holes. One of Murphy’s takes, he thinks, puts him at risk of being cancelled by the Wellington beltway.
The panel assesses the New Zealand First party list, with newcomers elevated to winnable spots and loyal time servers relegated into likely but not guaranteed positions. Does leader Winston Peters front them individually when they’re on the path to demotion, or does he leave it to the “party”?
Finally, we offer recommendations for you to read, watch or listen to over your weekend:
Tim: Hayden Donnell’s ‘Walking with Winston’ in the Spinoff, including this perceptive line “despite his prodigious charisma, Peters is finding it hard to talk to normal people”.
Marc: Glenn McConnell’s scoop in Stuff on the crackdown on MP benefits
Sam: Cass Mason’s report for Newsroom on ex minister Michael Wood’s search for redemption in Mt Roskill
Raw Politics will be available wherever you get your podcasts at the end of each week, and to watch on YouTube.