Little was criticised by some for perceived poor performance in television interviews, his low profile and poor name recognition with the general public. A "Dominion Post" assessment said "he has little charisma and a lack of new ideas" and criticised Labour's "bare platform". He was praised by political commentators early in his leadership for uniting the party caucus and averting the infighting that characterised David Cunliffe's tenure as leader, though at the expense of dropping many of the party's former policy proposals.