The Dominion Post election special wraparound front page tells us we have a “stark choice” on the economy.

John Hartevelt and Andrea Vance sum up the key policy differences and how they have been received by the public. We hear from Phil Goff who last night admitted getting the message across over changes to superannuation had been difficult. “I think that a lot of New Zealanders only got the message that the retirement age will go up, not the time frame and not the exclusion of people who physically just weren’t capable of continuing to work,” he said.

Further inside Paloma Migone has a further policy summary to help us make up our minds.

Kate Newton sketches out five post-election power scenarios.

Leadership, Assets, Australia, Spreadsheets and Poverty are given as the five big issues from this campaign. We find out who did best and who needs to see the principal.

Phil Goff is reacting to the “porkies” accusations over his police recruitment claims, saying, “They have cancelled the intake, the police commissioner is confirming that, the minister has confirmed that. Do you think they were going to tell the New Zealand public that they were cutting back on police intakes before the election?”

Tracy Watkins asks why National strategists are still biting their nails over tomorrow’s outcome with such strong polling. “Voters rarely toss out first-term governments – and especially not ones that are as popular as this one. On the campaign trail, and around the traps, people were barely talking about Labour – except to fret over whether they might vote Greens this time,” she says.

If you agree with her perhaps you fancy a flutter.

Reader’s reporter Jemma Stevenson finds out where the party leaders will be watching the results come in. Worryingly Winston has not yet organised a venue for his election night gathering. He did not say if he would refuse the bubbles.

Finally If you have no idea what you are doing you will probably want  to read this. I’m hoping to complete step 4 on Saturday.

And the Tom Scott cartoon depicts the war over asset sales.

Leading the New Zealand Herald is their latest Digipoll, which shows NZ FIrst poised on 5.2%. National have 50.9%, Labour 28%, and the Greens 11.8%.

A Scenario thrown up from today’s figures is that National could win over half of the vote but still need Act and United Future to govern because of the overhang factor – a 126 seat parliament where National would have 63 seats. Joining the poll results on the front page is the student’s outrage at those involved in the Fairfield College drug story.

Inside, The NBR poll for Epsom (see yesterday 6.10pm) is reported a nine-point lead for Goldsmith. Don Brash disagreed with the figures “My impression is that we are ahead in Epsom” his personal polling told him.

The vigorous rebuttal of Phil Goff’s claims on police recruitment is covered by Derek Cheng. Judith Collins calls the claims a “stain” on his poitical legacy.

The Greens closed their campaign at Q Theatre yesterday and attacked National‘s welfare reform plan. “Their reforms are about undermining parents, making children unsafe, not safer,” Metiria Turei said.

John Armstrong reviews the campaign and tells us Key has made several mistakes, the worst of which was around the endorsement of Act – which instead has revived NZ First. Whereas Goff has run a better race but with worse results, and he has made a mockery of Labour‘s decision to keep him off their advertising. “He is this election’s ugly, grey moth transformed into resplendent multi-coloured butterfly,” he says.

More poll results, this time on the referendum. Only 13.3% of us fully understand how the alternative voting systems work. MMP, however is comfortably leading with 54.4%.

Morgan Godfery explains how to vote strategically to return the most Maori MPs this election and with the least votes wasted. He finishes with that catchy aide memoire – “Vote MMP (More Maori in Parliament)”

Detailed poll results come next via Audrey Young. Most of us believe National ran the best campaign and will win tomorrow.

John Armstrong agrees in his campaign watch. National will claim victory tomorrow night but with the possible “nuisance factor” of NZ First and the Conservatives meaning they will need the Maori party.

John Minto and Sue Bradford have been to the bottle store and then on to the pokies. Highlighting “parasites on poverty” they visited money lenders, TAB operators and liquor outlets campaigning in south Auckland. One lender replied church leaders taking donations from their members were far worse “The difference between the church and me is the church won’t give them money,” he said.

The editorial also reviews the campaign but refrains from pointing us in any political direction. The Labour campaign it believes is probably for another time and another leader, whereas National, sure to win on the night, looks again to be one of incremental change. Overall the campaign has been “short on inspiration from both ends of the spectrum and unconvincing that the aims for our future expressed in political slogans can be achieved”.

Jim Hopkins chimes in to remind us that we are fortunate to have the power to vote and don’t have to take to the streets to do it. He then tells us that to keep control we must vote for change in the referendum – the only way to ensure, instead of government tinkering, it is us who decide next time around how we will elect our representatives.

in business Brian Fallow looks at the savings and Owen Hembry and Christopher Adams tell us that what the business sector wants is a clear result on Saturday.

John Drinnan examines, amongst other topics in his Media column, the tension up at Radio Live after the Michael Laws affair.

The worm, the debates, cats that look like David Cunliffe. It’s the campaign highs and lows.

“All my life I’ve wanted to be in Parliament. I wanted to be the youngest member of Parliament in New Zealand, and now I’m too old …” So says 69 year old Selwyn NZ First candidate Bill Woods in the Christchurch Press. He hs stood in an estimated 26 different elections for local body and national politics.

The Taranaki Daily Times gives Andrew Little and Jonathan Young one last chance to pitch for undecideds.

Chris Trotter writes all medieval on the ‘conundrum’ of Winston Peters. Should there be a swing of 5% to the left and should NZ First get over the threshold then the ‘allergy’ Winston has to both of the major parties could make post-election negotiations rather messy.

Down the road Labour candidate in National held Whanganui Hamish McDouall is taking optimism to a new level. “I was going to text Chester and see if he was planning to watch the election results in Hawera. I was going to suggest a phone call would be enough and I didn’t expect him to drive to Whanganui to concede,” he said.

“Youv’e only got yourselves to blame,” chides Dene Mackenzie In the Otago Daily Times as he discusses Labour‘s campaign mistakes. A lack of proper launch, billboards lacking a party vote tick and without Goff and would be leaders appearing in magazines all come in for attention. Their focus on asset sales has also allowed the Greens and Mana to take over the poverty fight – and the votes that come with it. Like many opinions before this he singles Goff out for praise in the way he has campaigned and handled himself.

And in the editorial we are reminded it is a duty and a privilege to vote. Especially this time around where we have not only the vote for who governs us but also the way in which we will make that choice for years to come. “Tomorrow provides the three-yearly opportunity to discharge both. Citizens get the government they deserve. Those who do not bother to vote can hardly complain later at the outcome.”