A political commentator believes National leader Simon Bridges still made the right call ruling out working with New Zealand First.
Matthew Hooton's comments come after the latest Newshub-Reid Research Poll, which shows this year's election could be anyone's game.
Labour is tracking at 42.5 percent support - just below National at 43.3 percent. It's the closest result in the poll's history.
Hooton says the numbers are telling.
"It shows that the election is on a knife-edge and much will depend upon what happens with New Zealand First," he told Newshub.
Winston Peters' NZ First Party, however, came in at just 3.4 percent.
Hooton said given the harsh rhetoric between National and NZ First during the past few years, Bridges still made the right call ruling out a potential coalition.
"He [Bridges] would have looked incredibly weak," Hooton said, adding Peters won't be losing sleep over the poll result.
According to the poll, Jacinda Ardern's popularity as preferred Prime Minister is holding strong - up slightly to 38.7 percent.
The Greens could be key for Ardern's Labour Party - which, according to the poll, would get seven seats.
