Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister hailed on the world stage for her tough handling of the coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand, is set to appear in her first live election debate against opposition leader Judith Collins. COVID-19, the country's harsh lockdown measures and a severe economic recession are set to dominate discussion. A second outbreak of the virus has not dented the Prime Minister's popularity in the polls as she continues to draw crowds on the campaign trail. But Ardern's selfies with supporters without social distancing has become a political talking point, with one commentator saying her popularity is a double-edged sword. CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout takes a look at Jacinda Ardern’s leadership ahead of the general election on Oct 17.
