Audrey Young does an analysis. She suggests that National's selection of Simon Bridges will make things more difficult for Peters than if Clarkson had stayed on.
In Simon Bridges, Peters faces a young, new face, someone who more represents the sort of change National is projecting nationally through leader John Key.
That will be a tougher contest for Peters. The mood for change has stubbornly persisted in the polls for almost two years in nationwide polls and there are perhaps as few as four months to go to the election.
Audrey still thinks that Winston will try again for Tauranga. We hope he does. All our Tauranga contacts tell us that he doesn't have a chance.
