It sounded like a concession speech from Auckland mayoral candidate Mark Thomas today.
The centre-right candidate put out a statement abruptly this morning, saying that unnamed people had asked him to pull out of the race because Labour MP Phil Goff was seen to be likely to be Auckland's next mayor.
But is the Auckland election really a done deal? And do people even recognise four of the supposed leading candidates?
RNZ headed to Onehunga Mall to conduct a highly unscientific poll in candidate recollection.
Four of the Auckland mayoral candidates, clockwise from top left: John Palino, Phil Goff, Vic Crone and Mark Thomas Photo: Supplied
Many recognised Mr Goff, with some able to name the former minister, but nobody could name all four candidates without being prompted.
"She looks like one of the candidates on the signs for the election. The next council election. I think she's Krum? Mrs Krum?" said one man, whilst pointing to a picture of former Xero CEO Victoria Crone. It was later clarified he had mistaken her for Auckland councillor Denise Krum.
"I can't remember the other names."
Almost everyone knew Mr Goff, as demonstrated by a selection of quotes from passers-by:
"That's Goff, innit?
"Well, I don't know them all ... I know faces. But that's Phil Goff."
"Oh! I know! Phil Goff."
When asked if he knew any of the others, one man responded that he didn't.
"Maybe I've seen but not really familiar. But I know Phil Goff."
"Of course that's Phil Goff and Denise Krum, is it?" Again, this was while pointing to Ms Crone.
One recent poll, in August, suggested Mr Goff was leading the race to be mayor at 32 percent, followed by Ms Crone (8 percent) and Mr Palino (4.1 percent).
Activist Penny Bright came fourth (2.4 percent) and Mr Thomas came fifth (1.7 percent), but both results were within the margin of error - as was the result for policy analyst David Hay (1.4 percent).
The survey of 760 eligible voters, by Survey Sampling International (SSI) for The Spinoff, found 43.7 percent were undecided. It had a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percent.
The election will be held on 8 October.
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