Melissa Lee backtracks: 'I'm trying to win this damn thing'

Friday, 22 May 2009

TOO MUCH NOISE: National candidate Melissa Lee blocks out the sound of the air horn used to signal time on the candidates at Auckland University.

National Party candidate for Mt Albert Melissa Lee says she does want to win the by-election, despite earlier saying she was hoping and expecting to come second.

Ms Lee has had a dire campaign after a verbal slip saw her painted a racist when she told a public meeting a new motorway would divert South Auckland criminals past the area.

She was also mired in allegations, which she has now been cleared of, that she wrongly used public funding to make a National Party video.

The latest controversy was sparked by comments on Radio New Zealand this morning when she said she did not expect to win the by-election.

Asked directly if she expected to come second she answered: 'yes'.

Ms Lee later said she was talking about the media expectation, not her own.

'I think it was a case of I am expecting to come second, at least,' Ms Lee said.

'I am not putting in all these hours and putting up with media trying to come second, I am not. I am trying to win this damn thing.'

Asked about Ms Lee's comments a spokesman for Prime Minister John Key said: 'We've always said it would be a tough ask but in the end it's for the Mt Albert voters decide.'

ACT candidate John Boscawen said she had 'no credibility whatsoever'.

'She quite unequivocally said 'I never expected to win, I'm trying to come second' and then to go out and say that's the media's expectations is absolutely rubbish.'

He said she had made other mistakes, but today was the 'ultimate'.

'She just keeps digging; she stuffed it up, now she's turning around and saying 'I didn't really mean what I said'.'

Mr Boscawen said he was now the only centre-right candidate.

Green Party candidate Russel Norman said his party was probably more of an underdog than National but he was keen to win the seat.

'The issues facing Mt Albert are core Green issues that also affect greater Auckland all of New Zealand.

'The people of Mt Albert need a serious candidate and I'm serious about representing Mt Albert.'

Dr Norman said the people of Mt Albert could send a message to the Government by voting for him.

'I am the candidate to protect democracy in Auckland, because it's definitely under threat (from the changes to local government structure).'

Labour candidate David Shearer said he was focused on the by-election.

'I'm working hard to win every vote I can on June 13 by listening and focusing on the issues that matter to the community.'

He said he was not taking anything for granted.

'I have spent the last month putting 100 percent into my campaign to win Mt Albert for Labour and that will continue.'

- NZPA