You know when an election is close because conversations start getting heated. How many conversations have you had in the last six weeks or so about politics? Now compare that with three months ago. This election is so close and people on both sides of the political divide stand to lose a lot if the result doesn’t go their way. 

 

Everywhere I go, people want to talk politics with me. And the first question is always the same. Who will win? And the answer is, I don’t know. I didn’t pick Trump and I didn’t pick Brexit, so I’m reluctant to try and predict what will happen on September 23rd. And the truth is, I simply don’t know. 

 

And neither do the two major political parties and that’s why they’ve rolled out the big guns. Usually, an outgoing leader disappears and you don’t see them pop up in the media again for some time. 

 

And I’m sure John Key was quite happy working on his golf handicap. He’s probably been working on his putting, having a few meetings about directorships and spending some time with the family. And then the call came from National Party headquarters. 

 

“John, we need a hand.” And suddenly, 10 days out from the Election, one of the most popular leaders in National’s history pops up again, and enters the campaign. 

 

He even endorsed Bill English on Facebook.

Key, complete with dramatic background music, campaigning for English. If it wasn't for him, Key said, the country would be in a mess. 

And what about Labour? Well, make no mistake. Helen Clark is here and she is the force behind Jacinda Ardern. Think back to when Ardern took the leadership and her go-to phrase was “I’m relentlessly positive”. It was a softer, slightly timid Ardern. She was feeling her way back then. 

 

But compare that to her style of leadership now. She’s developed the backbone of a grizzly bear. She’s not relentlessly positive anymore, in fact she’s pretty ruthless when it comes to taking on National and front-footing Bill English in the debates. She’s a confident speaker, she’s got a smart, strong mind and just like Clark, she’s unflappable. She’s no longer covered in stardust as Bill Engish once suggested, it’s more like cocaine. 

 

I’d bet my house on the fact that Clark is in her ear everyday. And who beat Clark? John Key. And that’s why Key is now back in the mix. It’s an extraordinary election not just for what’s playing out in front of us every day, but because of what’s going on behind the scenes.

 

It’s Key and English versus Clark and Ardern. It really is. There is so much riding on this election and I hand on heart have no idea who’s going to win.