CAMPAIGNING for tomorrow’s Lyne by-election is ramping up, with The Nationals intensifying their advertising in the hopes of hanging on to the seat.
The Nationals’ campaign has turned increasingly negative with attack ads attempting to paint Independent Rob Oakeshott as a Labor stooge.
The television advertisements claim leaked emails show Mr Oakeshott is “too close to Labor” and that he secretly supports the privatisation of the NSW electricity industry.
Mr Oakeshott refutes the ads’ implication, saying he has never supported electricity privatisation, and he appears unfazed by the campaign.
He laughed off the attack earlier this week, saying the ads have put his name out into the electorate much more frequently than he could have afforded with his advertising budget.
Election commentators are predicting a win to Mr Oakeshott in the by-election, brought about by the resignation of 15-year Lyne member of parliament Mark Vaile.
Respected ABC election analyst Antony Green has identified Mr Oakeshott as the “clear favourite” in the poll, while a story in The Australian by Imre Salusinszky said Mr Oakeshott’s approval in Lyne sits at 70 per cent.
Bookies are even saying you can bet on an Oakeshott victory.
The Wauchope Gazette reports that Sportingbet Australia is quoting the Independent candidate at $1.15 – very short odds making Mr Oakeshott a decisive favourite.
Sportingbet Australia’s trading manager Bill Richmond said one punter wagered $1000 in favour of Mr Oakeshott.
If the by-election plays out the way commentators predict, the loss of the traditionally-safe Nationals seat will have wider ramifications for the party.
It will reduce The Nationals’ representation in the House of Representatives to nine and four in the senate – by far the smallest number in the party’s history.
The Nationals (and the party forerunner, the Country Party) have held the electorate of Lyne since it was created in 1949.
Mr Oakeshott admitted he was quietly confident going into tomorrow’s poll.
For the record, Sportingbet quotes the remaining candidates odds as: Rob Drew (Nationals) $5, Susie Russell (Greens) $21, Bob Smith (Fishing Party) $51, Graeme Muldoon (Citizens Electoral Council) $51, Stewart Scott-Irving (Independent) $51, Michael Patrick O’Donohue (Democratic Labor Party) $51 and Barry Wright (Independent) $51.