Leaders in Preferred PM ratings

For those interested, here is how the PM and Opposition Leaders have fared in Preferred PM ratings in the Kantar poll in May of election year.

Opposition Leaders

1. 2008 John Key 36%
2. 1999 Helen Clark 22%
3. 1993 Mike Moore 21%
4. 2023 Chris Luxon 18%
5. 2005 Don Brash 15%
6. 1984 David Lange 13%
7. 1990 Jim Bolger 12%
8. 2002 Bill English 12%
9. 2014 David Cunliffe 10%
10. 1987 Jim Bolger 8%
11. 2017 Andrew Little 8%
12. 2011 Phil Goff 8%
13. 2020 Simon Bridges 5%
14. 1996 Helen Clark 4%

So Chris Luxon’s rating is not far off what Helen Clark had in 1999 and is higher than both Jim Bolger and David Lange had in their May of election year.

And how about PMs:

1. 2020 Jacinda Ardern 63%
2. 2011 John Key 53%
3. 2002 Helen Clark 50%
4. 2014 John Key 43%
5. 2005 Helen Clark 41%
6. 1987 David Lange 37%
7. 1984 Robert Muldoon 34%
8. 2017 Bill English 29%
9. 2008 Helen Clark 28%
10. 1999 Jenny Shipley 27%
11. 2023 Chris Hipkins 25%
12. 1996 Jim Bolger 22%
13. 1990 Geoffrey Palmer 19%
14. 1993 Jim Bolger 8%

So in May of election year Christopher Luxon is the 4th highest polling opposition leader and Chris Hipkins is the 4th lowest polling prime minister.

Yet the media generally report the poll as terrible for Luxon. I can only assume they don’t know history.