English enjoys these low-key meet-and-greets, a contrast to the larger rallies Ardern holds, where people treat her like a rock star. Opinion polls indicate the race is close, with some momentum swinging back toward the conservative incumbent after Ardern’s remarkable rise energized the race when she took over as opposition leader last month. English says the polls have been volatile, and small changes could have a big effect on the outcome. “People have been changing their views very quickly, and I think the polls have reflected that,” says English. “Certainly it’s been somewhat frustrating dealing with their negative campaign,” Ardern says.

Source: National Post September 22, 2017 08:29 UTC