The need for unity in Auckland
Auckland's political right is fragmented and facing failure in the Super City elections, warns former mayor john banks.
Vic Crone, John Palino and Mark Thomas are splitting the centre-right vote for the mayoralty while a new national party-backed auckland future ticket has emerged – to run a separate campaign from its long-established Communities & Residents (c&r) stablemate.
Banks, who has tasted victory and defeat at Auckland local body elections, says it is impossible for the centre-right to win the mayoralty with three mayoral candidates.
“The centre-right needs to sit down and clearly identify a candidate of preferred choice. There is simply not enough momentum from the centre-right to overcome the fight between the three candidates.
“[Labour MP] phil goff is getting some serious momentum that is going to be difficult to catch,” Banks says.
I agree that a three way split between centre-right candidates will hand Goff the Mayoralty on the plate.
At some stage no doubt a media organisation will conduct a poll in Auckland. My suggestion would be that any candidate under say 10% drops out, as you have no chance of winning if you're in single figures at this stage.