Fitzsimons takes lead in Coromandel
Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons polled 39 per cent support in the latest TV One Colmar Brunton poll released last night.
National's Murray McLean is lagging behind on 36 per cent, Labour's Margaret Hawkeswood is on 13 per cent, Alliance's Tony Bird is on eight per cent and NZ First's Robyn McDonald is on four per cent.
"We always knew that the Coromandel would be a two horse race," said Ms Fitzsimons today. "More and more people are realising that they can vote for a better local MP and still support the party of their choice with the party vote."
The Green Party polled 9 per cent of the party vote in the Coromandel, ahead of all the other parties except the two majors. Labour was ahead of National in the party vote by 33 per cent to 31 per cent.
Nationwide polls indicate that the Green Party has around three per cent support, which would translate into four MPs in parliament if Ms Fitzsimons wins the Coromandel seat. Most polls show Labour and the Alliance would need the support of the Greens to have a majority in the House.
"The whole country is watching this seat," said Ms Fitzsimons. "We still have two and a half weeks of campaigning left, but we are confident that the Greens will have a voice inside parliament for the next three years."
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