Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Port Macquarie last week in a pitch to voters in the the seat of Cowper to stick with the Coalition in Saturday's federal election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The National Party currently holds the seat and under normal circumstances it would be safe. However, incumbent Luke Hartsuyker is retiring and resurgent Independent, Rob Oakeshott, is considered a real chance to win.
Mr Oakeshott was formerly the Member for Lyne, a seat he relinquished when he didn't stand for re-election in 2013. So Cowper is now vital for the Coalition. They may need the Nationals to hold Cowper if they hope to still be in power post Saturday.
However, Mr Morrison didn't think it necessary to travel a little way down the Pacific Highway and stopover anywhere in the seat of Lyne. There's an obvious reason for this. Other than the reasonably brief flirtation with Mr Oakeshott, Lyne has always been National Party (aka Country Party) heartland.
Dr David Gillespie has been the member since winning in 2013. He'll be there for another term after Saturday.
As such there's little enthusiasm in this part of the world about the local result on Saturday. The median average of voters in Lyne is 50 - the oldest in the nation. And the majority have voted National (or Country) Party all their life. They aren't going to change now.
Turnouts to Meet the Candidate forums held in the electorate have reportedly been poor, probably a reflection of the malaise voters feel about the local result on Saturday. Reports also indicate that the Independent, Jeremy Miller, has been the most impressive and enthusiastic candidate at the forums, but even his most ardent supporters would know he has little chance of winning the seat.
Lyne should be fertile ground for change. Just look at the number of jobs lost in the Manning Valley alone in the past two decades. A swinging seat would attract the attention of both major parties. This just doesn't happen in a safe seat.
Dr Gillespie earned the moniker of Dr Doolittle early in his incumbency. His main rival on Saturday would be expected to be Labor candidate, Phil Costa, who has been likened to Peter Brady from the 1960s TV series, The Invisible Man.
So Lyne is a battle between Dr Doolittle and The Invisible Man. Hardly a mouth watering contest.
Mick McDonald
Senior journalist