New South Wales 2007

[ag]

Election is this Saturday. Given the results last time, this is mostly about the Coalition clawing back enough so that it can actually try for power in four years. Lab majority might be reduced, but doesn't seem likely to be overturned. Even less likely (with a number of strong independents) is the Coalition majority. Still, could be fun.

[ag]

Today's Herald/ACNielsen poll (taken earlier in the week, huge sample of almost 1900 voters):

Two-party preferred:

Lab 56%
Coalition 44%

(same as before the last election; note though, in NSW one can exhaust one's vote, so an effective abstention by minor party voters is possible; furthermore, there are a lot of independents who actually win)

Primary vote:

Lab 41% (-2 compared to 2003)
Coalition 36% (+2)

Preferred PM:

Iemma (Lab) 56%
Debnam (Lib) 27%
Don't know 17%

Iemma (Lab): approved 52%, diapproved 33%
Debnam (Lib): approved 30%, disapproved 51%

Expect Lab to win: 76%
Expect Coalition to win 12%

Though: 52% believe Lab does not deserve to win
But: 57% believe Coalition does not deserve to win

To sum up: looking good for Mr. "I am a" and not looking good for the opposition.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I saw on Sky News Australia that voters in New South Wales both hate Morris Iemma and Peter Debham. And out of the two they like Iemma. Also, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Muqhud (don't know how to spell his first name) Habib is running for a seat in the NSW parliament. And he's go the support of human right activist groups.

[Hash]

Say what? A terrorist running for election?

[minionofmidas]

Say what? A terrorist running for election?

Huh? He was in Gitmo. No terrorist has ever been in Gitmo (until quite recently, when they transferred these ten guys there).
There's probably few better indications of innocence than having been to Gitmo, especially if you've since been released.

[Platypus]

All indications suggest that Habib will struggle to break 2000 votes. Also, Iemma will win, probably with a slightly reduced margin. The ALP deserve to lose badly in NSW, it's just that their opposition is the Liberal Party...

If I was a NSWelshman, I'd probably exhaust my ballot after voting all the third parties. In a marginal seat, I'd probably vote for the *eek* Liberal. NSW needs governmental change, I just wish the alternative was better.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The ALP has won; seat projection is Lab 51, Lib 21, Nat 13, Oth 6. ALP lost just 2 seats.

[Platypus]

And the Nats gained them.

Basically it was a choice between exceptionally awful and worthless, and abysmal. Abysmal won.

[Platypus]

To sum up: looking good for Mr. "I am a" and not looking good for the opposition.

It's actually pronounced "Dy-lemm-ah" (e-Yem-ma, actually)

[Robespierre's Jaw]

In my opinion both political leaders in NSW are complete Tools! If I had to vote on Saturday in NSW, I'd probably have voted for (I'd hate to say this) Peter Debnam of the Liberals. Or if not Debnam, a small third party that has no chance in hell. I feel sorry for the New South Welshman on this forum, you'd had the worst choice of political candidates in the whole of Australia!

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Thankfully I changed my electoral details to the ACT, so to miss this.

Basically it shows how appalling a leader Debnham was and how shockingly bad a campaign was run, to lose to THIS Government.

I have nothing against Iemma, I think Debnham is a total waste of space. Hopefully, they'll put up Barry O'Farrell as leader.