Until last week’s Newshub leaders’ debate, Hipkins had been running what commentators had described as a lacklustre and inspiration-free campaign. So much was hinging on Tuesday’s The Press Leaders’ Debate which sits just three days into Hipkins’, now-unmandated but recommended, five day isolation period. Stuff Limited, which owns The Press and Stuff, is working through contingency plans including alternative dates for the all-important campaign fixture. (File / Whakaata Māori)In 2022, Australian opposition leader Anthony Albanese got Covid just one week into the election campaign. A bit like Hipkins’ rally after the Newshub leaders debate, Albanese had just been staging a comeback and regaining momentum after a strong, winning debate performance.

Source: Stuff October 01, 2023 09:02 UTC