A snapshot of the public mood after Helen Clark's election-date announcement shows it would take a huge swing to Labour for her to win a fourth term. Today's Fairfax Media-Nielsen poll, taken mostly in the days after Miss Clark named a November 8 election, puts National on 52 per cent support, 18 points ahead of Labour. The poll confirms a trend which has had National sitting above 50 per cent since November - and John Key ahead of Miss Clark as preferred prime minister for almost as long. It is a golden run of support that Labour will find difficult to break as the election date looms. In announcing the November 8 election, Miss Clark was banking on a long campaign to chip away at her opponent on the key issues of trust and experience. Fairfax Nielson polls
Fairfax Nielson Poll: August 16 2008
Fairfax Nielson Poll: 19 July 2008
Fairfax Neilson Poll: 21 June 2008
Fairfax Neilson Poll: 17 May 2008
Fairfax Neilson Poll: 23 Feb 2008
c Stuff.co.nz & Political Animal 2008
