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National is insisting the Hamilton West by-election will be a "three-horse race" as both parties downplay their prospects of a win.
Waikato voters will head to the polling booths in just 50 days, after their former MP Gaurav Sharma quit the electorate to run afresh.
He's the only confirmed name so far in the race the National Party says is anyone's to win.
Political reporter Anneke Smith has more.