How Nash won

A Stuff article on how Stuart Nash was the only MP to win a seat off in 2011. How did he do it?

Here's my summary of what worked for him:

  • He campaigned relentlessly for over two years. He didn't just turn up for the last six months
  • He got himself appointed the Labour spokesperson so he could maintain a profile
  • He identified a couple of hot local issues, and got on the popular side of them
  • He had a high profile gimmick such as his red fire truck
  • He had good advisors

It also helped Stuart that the incumbent MP retired. that creates opportunities, and is often the best time to win a seat off the other party.

Even though National will be seeking a fourth term in 2017, it is not at all impossible that they could pick up some electorate seats off Labour. National now has new high energy in , Port Hills and West Coast – Tasman. The incumbent electorate MPs are probably going to retire in 2017 (or sooner if Cunliffe gets re-elected Leader), and if the new National MPs of Bishop, Korako and Pugh work hard to be great local MPs, they could win those seats in 2017.

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