August 11, 2013
Winston and JT – a formidable combo
Opinion: Some might think it madness, some might think it's a partnership made in heaven while others a deal made in hell.
But whatever way you look at the dynamics, Winston Peters and John Tamihere would make a formidable political combination.
There's talk – which means there's obviously some truth to the rumours – that the wily old fox Winston and JT will team up at the next election.
JT is playing his cards close to his chest and won't confirm or deny if he will even stand at the next election.
But I like the look of these two teaming up under the NZ First banner.
Winston needs a successor to carry on the NZ First crusade and if JT stood in Waitakere for Winston and won, which he most certainly would do, NZ First would have a guaranteed seat in Parliament.
JT still has a lot to offer and I know deep down he still wants another shot in government.
JT is not the sort of bloke to go courting a nomination. But if Winston approached JT one-to-one, I'm sure it could work out.
Now I don't know who out of Winston and JT would be Batman and who would be Robin, as both are savvy political pundits and have the egos to match.
But there's no doubt they would have the voting spectrum well and truly covered.
The blue rinse brigade loves Winston because they have real tangibles, like the Gold Card and other perks that he has got them.
Winston does well with the mainstream Pakeha because of his rhetoric around the Treaty and of course when he pulls the old Asian card.
While JT also has big support from Pakeha voters and for many years they have seen him as the great brown hope and the person who could rescue the Labour Party from all their political correctness.
On our radio live talkback show this week when the idea of Winston and JT was mooted, the majority of calls were in favour.
As usual, JT sat there playing the devil's advocate – or in radio terms the dump button master – but I got the feeling the partnership was not as strange as first mooted.
If Labour had any brains, they would ask JT to stand otherwise they could face a backlash and the possibility of him going with Winston.
JT is a Labour man through and through. His blood flows red.
But if Labour don't appreciate what they already have, then they could take on someone who knows their party inside out.
JT and Winston would make a great political team and if I was Winston, I'd be talking to JT now.
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