Comments on: Seat du jour: Boothby

By: Moxie

Moxie — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 02:09:06 +0000

Voting day…and I have a problem….I dearly want Mr. Rudd to win…but I do not want to be represented by Nicole Cornes. Lovely, hardworking gal she may be (and I have never met her) but she does not have the experience (a few rounds within the local government arena) nor the political savvy necessary to assume this position. I think her selection as ALP candidate is a glaring case of ‘jobs for the boys’ gone wrong! For the future – if anyone out there, or even Nicole herself (if she is unsuccessful this time), is truly interested in eventually running for national office – might I suggest one spend some time gathering more appropriate qualifications than a feather-weight newspaper column and a celebratory footballer husband. Meanwhile – how to vote preferences to accomplish my goal??

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 02:55:45 +0000

I think I understand Nicole. The working-class nerd with Distinctions in Law, angel face and boobs. A challenging combination, for her and for us, a clashing of stereotypes alive and well. The battler, the brainy and the gorgeous, cutting through but conflicted and under seige.

Cunning diplomacy, weapon of choice, can be purchased also has to be learned. Princess Di had a go, with no expense spared. But was missing the crunch. Try My Fair Lady instead – a brunette it’s true; no degree, but with guts and personal mentor to hand. A beauty who fought for and learned social power of the time. So go Nicole – targeted PR tactics are all. You too can conquer the fickle world, as politics requires.

By: Ray VIC

Ray VIC — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:03:12 +0000

Toby, the only way Nicole will get in is if there’s an absolute overall landslide to Labor and she gets swept over the line in the tsunami. Boothby is not the “litmus test” of this election, she’s made sure of that. So no, she can’t “just as easily win it (Government) for them…” but she sure as hell can lose it.

By: Toby

Toby — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:57:59 +0000

Ray 88: “If the election is tight she might actually cost Rudd Government”
And she could just as easily win it for them….

By: Ray VIC

Ray VIC — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:11:54 +0000

As a Victorian I’ve only seen the news grabs of Nicole in action but I’ve seen enough to know her pre-selection was a huge mistake. Look, she just comes across as stupid and lacking in any confidence. What comes out of her mouth is bad enough but the klutzy body language is even worse. If the election is tight she might actually cost Rudd Government. He’ll have only himself to blame for that.

By: Patricia WA

Patricia WA — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:04:44 +0000

Like so many people I jumped to conclusions about Nicole Cornes on the strength of that first widely published interview, (and to my shame, her looks!) but thought again as I read further reports of her persisting with studying policy, working really hard at one to one contacts and turning up like a trooper at local centres. Since then I’ve followed whatever news turned up about Boothby and Nicole with interest and was really impressed on this blog to read the details of her early life, struggles and achievements. I see other comments here from people who know her personally and trust that it will filter through to her that people outside S.A. have been impressed by her. It must take considerable intestinal fortitude to resist the tide of “blondism” out there and stay strong in the face of vindictive comment Sometimes being born beautiful makes it hard to be taken seriously and I imagine her struggle for an education is part of that. Whether she wins or not Nicole Cornes will do well. Legally Blonde and Reece Witherspoon spring to mind except that Nicole deserves to be taken more seriously than that! Go, Nicole!

By: barry

barry — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:36:44 +0000

Im gonna go out on a limb and say Cornes will win by over 1%. The mood is so pro-Rudd and Cornes through hard work and unwarranted media attention has made this once neglected Lib seat the eye of the nation – why on earth would anyone wanna stop that? If it becomes a marginal seat itll be one of the most marginal in the country and will be getting attention left right and centre from whatever govt gets in. For that reason alone ppl will vote for Cornes. If she was up against a hard working MP then Libs would be in game, but Southcott cant portray himself independently from team. hes done too little locally. Very much agree with pannas, she dispels preconceptions when u meet her, and southcott is very very much a useless wet rag of a bloke. Bossie is quite impressive I agree – they shouldve ran him on senate ticket. very broad background too for a Dem, church minister and ASIO officer – not some crazy leftie human shield like Ruth Russell.

By: Matthew Sykes

Matthew Sykes — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:58:13 +0000

Now, I chose the easiest 3 SA electorates first, and I don’t think too many people would argue with my assessment of those being picked up by labor.
Boothby is one of those that everybody will be looking out for on election night. Was Nicole Cornes the right choice ? Is she a disaster ? Will her grass-roots campaign style be effective ? All questions that remain unanswered until next Saturday night, or maybe later if it’s close.

I work at Flinders University, in the heart of Boothby, and have many friends and colleagues that live within this seat. I can honestly say, I have found little evidence of people wanting to vote directly for Nicole Cornes, in spite of my words of biased labor wisdom. However, I distinctly detect an equal unwillingness to vote for Southcott. A number of people have indicated they will be voting greens and sending their preference to Cornes. So it is for this reason I think a high greens vote will be essential for Cornes to win here. And if she wins, it will be a close-run thing.

The green vote last time was 7%, which is fairly decent. I suspect it will be much higher this time, easily getting over 10%. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict 12% !

So, I’m caught in 2 minds, but I don’t think Cornes has done enough, and will just miss out. Liberal retain. (2PP swing to labor of 4%)

By: Pannas

Pannas — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:12:04 +0000

I’ve seen some of the candidates up close. Dr Southcott is lacklustre at best. Nicole arrived late for a public meeting but spoke well. She has a heart-felt way about her. I think the media performance was a total failure of the labor machine to support her, what did they think would happen? I think she choked on the first press engagement and everything since has been moulded by the media to fit that picture. It is unfair. Craig Bossie for the Democrats impresses me, he is compassionate, clued in to the local issues and is a very good match for the electorate. He’s been working on the Democrats transport plan issue. There’s a Green, and an independent who now appears to be there to boost the X vote, but that’s not confirmed. Craig Bossie was at the Mitcham shops with Natasha Stott Despoja. I’ll be voting dems 1, then Labor and Liberal last, yes one nation before Liberal.

By: Toby

Toby — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:13:41 +0000

Labor polling shows a 6% swing in Boothby – looks like Cornes may just win. The general feeling in the electorate is that they want Rudd as PM and are looking at the bigger picture, rather than Cornes. Interesting. Also, the Coalition has just about given up on Sturt. Pyne is gone.