Lobbying and horse trading is well under way within Labour's 34-strong caucus as the contenders to replace Phil Goff as leader try to lock in enough votes to get them over the line.
The Labour Party faces a potentially divisive two-week leadership race as MPs vie to replace Phil Goff in the party's top job.
Mr Goff and deputy Annette King stand down on 13 December.
[image:3968:half:right]The three Davids - Cunliffe, Parker and Shearer - are seen as the frontrunners for the top job while Grant Robertson is still taking soundings from his colleagues.
Even before all the votes had been counted in Saturday's election, the contenders were quietly jockeying for position - and a whispering campaign began against David Cunliffe, questioning his work rate and performance as finance spokesperson.
Mr Cunliffe said the "little bit" of backstabbing that had gone on had probably backfired on those who'd done it because it was so obvious.
He said that he would run a positive campaign and would not backstab anyone, because at the end of the day all the leadership hopefuls will pack down in the same scrum.
David Cunliffe said the party needed to reorganise and rebrand and he would bring energy and vision to the leadership.
The MP he wants as his deputy, Nanaia Mahuta is the only woman and only Maori MP to throw a hat in the leadership ring.
[image:3970:third:right]"We've got skills that complement each other, we recognise that, and we recognise a new generation of Labour leadership."
List MP David Parker is probably Mr Cunliffe's chief rival for the leadership.
He has played an influential role behind-the-scenes driving the development of Labour's policy agenda but has not always been the best of communicators.
Mr Parker is widely respected in Labour's caucus. He says he is "as ruthless as you need to be" for the top job.
"Leaders have to take tough decisions and I wouldn't shrink away from those.
"But my greatest strength I think is that I can make Labour relevant to New Zealand in 2011."
David Parker has not named his preferred deputy although he says he'd be happy to have Grant Robertson as his number two.
[image:3967:third:right]The Wellington Central MP has indicated his interest in a leadership job, but declined to be interviewed.
The final MP in the mix is David Shearer, who before becoming an MP in the Mt Albert by-election of 2009, was the deputy head of the UN Mission in Iraq.
Mr Shearer said he hadn't done the numbers in the caucus and admitted he is pretty green in terms of political experience, though he said he has experience he could bring to the Labour Party.
"I've built teams before, sometimes in pretty difficult situations. I think that I offer something, and ultimately its the big job."
Mr Shearer said he would take soundings from colleagues before formally throwing his hat into the ring.
By giving just two weeks notice, Phil Goff has set up a short, sharp leadership contest. The party will be hoping that will help limit the potential for the race to get messy and divisive.
