A booming economy, massive investment in infrastructure, a healthy budget surplus, a hospital system no longer in constant crisis management, and a lacklustre Labor leader. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian should be a shoo-in to win the election in March.

The fact that she's not a near certainty to be returned represents a failure of political skills rather than of economic management. It's a failure designed to be addressed by a generous state budget showering plenty of cash and big promises on NSW voters.