With the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll showing National and Labour neck-and-neck, National has taken a huge gamble ruling out forming a coalition with New Zealand First.
And voters don't back the call - well, the voters that count for Simon Bridges: National and New Zealand First voters.
When Newshub asked voters if they thought National should work with New Zealand First, more National voters said yes they should work together than no - 42.7 percent to 40.9 percent.
New Zealand First voters were even keener on the parties working together - more than half said yes they should, compared to 35.6 percent saying no.
But Bridges says he still thinks he made the right call.
"Ultimately I had to do what I believe is right," he told Newshub.
Winston Peters refused to be interviewed on Sunday. He had other things to do - including complaining to the cops about the leaks concerning his party and the secretive NZ First Foundation.
His statement says "ongoing media stories using stolen information are designed to skew an even political playing field" and he could "no longer tolerate the mendacious attacks".
"I can't trust NZ First, neither can NZ," Bridges said.
He was backed up by his only buddy, ACT leader David Seymour.
"Bridges made the right call not for political but for principle," he told Newshub.
"Peters in my view is a crook who doesn't belong in any parliament - let alone NZ."
Bridges is adamant that his decision will galvanise his voters and bring them back to National.
But given just how many of those voters thought National should work with NZ First, it could prove a risky move.
The Newshub-Reid Research poll was conducted between January 23 and February 1 with a sample size of 1000 eligible voters and a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.
