It’s interesting how much the prescription fee contraceptive debate has really ticked off the National party.

Several of the party’s most prominent female MPs have come out firing over the last couple of days, accusing Labour of having overstepped the line for what is and isn’t appropriate in an election campaign.

I think Megan Woods’ social media post comparing New Zealand under National to The Handmaid’s Tale was over the top, but not egregiously so. It’s not that I think charging $5 for prescriptions would lead to a dystopian hellhole in which women were profoundly subjugated and oppressed. After all, Labour apparently didn’t think that was the case for their first five years in government. I just think it’s an election campaign. Megan Woods’ post was grandiose and not very charitable. But she wasn’t being literal. And last I checked, this time, the Prime Minister isn’t promising to run a strictly positive campaign.

Obviously the reaction speaks to a specific sensitivity within National.

Christopher Luxon personally opposes abortion, and even though he’s clearly ruled out any changes to abortion access, the party is still concerned about perceptions he might have a secret agenda, or simply that Christopher Luxon is much more socially conservative than most New Zealanders. Pollsters think he has a real issue connecting with some women voters. By highlighting the contraception issue, Labour is able to needle away at one of the areas where National’s strategists think he’s most vulnerable.

We’re in danger with these kinds of examples of ending up in a big what-about-ism debate. Attack ads are flowing thick and fast from both of the main parties.

But Labour should be careful.

National’s unlikely to respond to this week by just complaining about mischievous politicking and leaving it at that. And the closer the race, the nastier the campaign is likelier to be.