The National Party Conference over the weekend effectively kicks off the countdown to the election. With less than a hundred days to go it was no surprise that John Key got down to business by outlining a range of policies which underpins his vision for change.

Noticeable was the distinct absence of complacency over recent poll results or taking the obvious pot-shots he could have, against Helen Clark. After all, he could have been forgiven for taking the opportunity with 700 plus party faithful in attendance.

What was there though, was a man who simply wanted to do his bit to make his country better. He wasted no time in staking his credibility on a range of important issues.

• $5 billion more on infrastructure like roading, energy, and Broadband.

• Faster rollout of meaningful tax-cuts not just this year but again next April and the April after that.

• An emphasis of going after the criminal gangs that blight our streets - the drugs that kill our kids - and the re-prioritizing of our justice system to favor victims.

• Greater emphasis on trusting parents to do the job of parenting without the intrusions of the state.

• And finally, a promise of a referendum on MMP.

The list was long but so was the ambition. Naturally enough, he got a standing ovation.

Conferences are always strange beasts... you meet up with old friends, discover new ones... and yes, argue about some of the big and not so big questions about life, love and politics over too many drinks and too many tasteless rubber meals. The real difference at this conference though... was the incredible sense that the baton of our nation's history is about to be given to a guy who believes its okay to dream again. I'm usually a cynic but you know what? I believe him.