"When a sitting member is deselected, it is stressing for the sitting member and those who support the member. But Clare got a convincing vote from the selection."
Ms Curran had gathered around her a strong and large team and was in the process of organising her campaign, Miss Clark said.
She felt "very positive" that people understood it was a Labour seat and they had to work hard to retain it.
She had continued to involve Mr Benson-Pope in what the Government and Labour Party were doing and still "personally regarded him as a friend".
However, during the interview, Miss Clark failed to mention Mr Benson-Pope by name.
Dunedin South has one of the largest majorities for Labour in the country.
It also provided the party organisation with one of the largest donations to fight the last election.
Speculation continues that Mr Benson-Pope is considering standing as an independent candidate by urging voters to give him their electorate vote while giving Labour the party vote.
So far, he has failed publicly to deny the speculation.
For Miss Clark, it was another day on the campaign trail, with the election not expected before November 1.
Tax cuts are due on October 1, and the Government will want two fortnightly pay cycles to take effect so voters can feel the benefit of the extra money.
The last weekend in October is Labour Weekend and because no government would schedule an election for a public holiday, that leaves November 1 or 8.
November 15, the last possible date for the election, is the end of Canterbury show week and an unlikely election date.
