P.M. predicts ‘Lazarus rise’ by National

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 8

P.M. predicts ‘Lazarus rise’ by National

By

BRENDON BURNS,

political reporter

Calling it a "Lazarus phenomenon,” the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, again predicted yesterday there would be a narrowing of Labour’s lead over National.

The warning, similar to one given a fortnight ago, can be interpreted as an attempt to soften the impact on morale that reduced opinion poll leads may bring. Mr Lange said the Labour Party’s own polling had shown a 3 per cent fall in support recently. While a narrowing of the lead was likely, he said the critical factor was what had happened

in the recent British and Australian elections.

“Where people form the view that the Government might change, they then come back to the Government towards the end of the campaign.” Labour had deliberately abstained from an early campaign and from knocking the National Party, said Mr Lange. Its strategy was working perfectly and National’s extremely negative election campaign was in the Government’s interests.

Mr Lange said nearly two weeks ago that he expected National to be within 10 per cent of Labour within a fortnight of the August 15 election.