Reflections on the Miracle of Democracy at Work in the Greatest Nation on Earth

Sturt and Paterson polls

Two local marginal seat polls have brought relatively good news for the Coalition, though it would probably not do to read too much into them. Yesterday the Newcastle Herald brought us a survey of 300 respondents from the Port Stephens area seat of Paterson, which showed Liberal member Bob Baldwin enjoying a counter-intuitive primary vote lead over Labor candidate Jim Arneman of 46 per cent to 32 per cent. The respective figures from the 2004 election were 52.0 per cent and 36.1 per cent. It also points to a similarly unlikely non-major party vote of 21 per cent, compared to 11.9 per cent in 2004. The accompanying article’s reference to a “0.1 per cent margin for error” raises serious questions about the paper’s statistical expertise. No such concerns with a poll of 297 respondents from the Adelaide seat of Sturt, conducted by the Adelaide University’s politics department and published on the ABC Adelaide website. Nonetheless, the result sounds a little unlikely: a 50 per cent primary vote for Liberal incumbent Christopher Pyne, down just slightly from 51.7 per cent from 2004, with Labor on 40 per cent, up from 34.5 per cent. This translates into a 55-45 win for Pyne and a two-party swing to Labor of around 2 per cent.

184 Comments

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  1. 151
    Spiros
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:25 pm | Permalink

    Correction: 90 p.c. of the poll was conducted before the Labor launch.

    So the true figure is probably 59:41.

  2. 152
    Rates Analyst
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:26 pm | Permalink

    I suspect this line is important:

    “About 90 per cent of the polling was complete by the time Kevin Rud [sic!!] launched Labor’s campaign on Wednesday afternoon.”

    So after Howard gets all the limelight, he gets 1%. Assuming that Mr Rudd’s far more postitive spin in the media gets him back that 1% (or more) the Ruddslide is still on.

    (note that the 90% is by the launch, most wouldn’t have seen any coverage for hours after that. Not till 6pm news.)

  3. 153
    Clarence the Clocker
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:27 pm | Permalink

    Steven Kaye @ 134 WTF has Rudd appearing on Insiders got to do with the price of fish, the Insider audience would have made up their mind already, I have and I suspect you have as well. He would be better off having a sleep in, a nice slow breakfast and take walk on the beach, give himself and all of us a bit of rest from this never ending campaign, Howard should do the same.
    Also Steven most regulars to this sight are beyond the left right thing so if you want to get a bit of traction with your tied old cliches truck on down to the GG or the Alexander Downer blog….. your a bit out of your depth hear.

  4. 154
    TofK
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:27 pm | Permalink

    SMH interesting, 90% of polling completed BEFORE Rudd’s campaign launch.

  5. 155
    Spiros
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:29 pm | Permalink

    Seriously, if Labor gets some momentun going in the last week, they could end up with 110 seats.

  6. 156
    bleh
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:29 pm | Permalink

    I would like a Sturt Liberal voter to tell me a good reason why they are preferencing Pyne over Mia. Mia has proven her debating skills to outclass Pynes. What’s more, she has been busier this campiagn, plus she has revealed a strong underlying message of what she stands for.

  7. 157
    K Jin
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:29 pm | Permalink

    Gary Bruce Says:
    November 15th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
    Curtain didn’t lose an election in ‘45.

    Thats what am saying. Curtin was dead in mid 45 but, if he like Hitler in 41 had gone to his people he would have won in a landslide and in someways Howard should have a good win to. But it appears he will not.
    SO TO QUOTE A FAMOUS PLAY, HE, HOWARD IS “Fortunes fool”

  8. 158
    Crikey Whitey
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:30 pm | Permalink

    It has to have been taken, in the main before the ALP launch.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, that was only yesterday.

    And from the bloggers on the MSM to the front page of today’s Australian,
    what a difference a day makes.

  9. 159
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:31 pm | Permalink

    I would like a Sturt Liberal voter to tell me a good reason why they are preferencing Pyne over Mia. Mia has proven her debating skills to outclass Pynes. What’s more, she has been busier this campiagn, plus she has revealed a strong underlying message of what she stands for.

    Plus Handshin – unlike Pyne – isn’t completely annoying.

  10. 160
    Crikey Whitey
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:31 pm | Permalink

    54/46 ABC News

  11. 161
    Lord D
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:32 pm | Permalink

    We should get a Morgan ph poll tomorrow arvo conducted Wed/Thur, which would be taken after Labor’s launch. A pity sample sizes in Morgan ph are so small. We should also get a Morgan f2f poll conducted last weekend that will probably show something like 60-40.

  12. 162
    Basil Fawlty
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:33 pm | Permalink

    Centrebet has Coalition @ $3.50 tonight, we do indeed live in interesting times!

  13. 163
    Crikey Whitey
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:34 pm | Permalink

    Nicole, Mia, Julia on ABC News.

  14. 164
    Marktwain
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:35 pm | Permalink

    They should get Peter Hartcher on the telly more often. Not only does he bring good news for Kevin-0-heaven, but he’s a bit of a spunk too.

  15. 165
    fiztig
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:35 pm | Permalink

    ACN 54/46 with about 80% of the poll conducted after the Coalition launch but before the ALP launch.

  16. 166
    fiztig
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:37 pm | Permalink

    Marktwain – the 7:30 Report tonight is this nerd girl’s dream night – MegaGeorge and Hartcher together! :)

  17. 167
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:38 pm | Permalink

    Marktwain - the 7:30 Report tonight is this nerd girl’s dream night - MegaGeorge and Hartcher together! :)

    Settle Nerd Girl.

  18. 168
    Aussieguru01
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:38 pm | Permalink

    Time to smile …:-) !

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjKBf1N2Wls&sdig=1

  19. 169
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:40 pm | Permalink

    730 report

    Tomorrows ac neilson 54-46 Lbor

  20. 170
    Marktwain
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:40 pm | Permalink

    fiztig, I quite like redheads, too. So add ‘em all up and you’ve got … an intellectual orgasm.

  21. 171
    GetReal
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:40 pm | Permalink

    Kevin “Rud”

    Says it all about the commitment to accuracy in our MSM

    On the basis that the polls hold true, they are going to have to seriously have to examine how they covered this whole campaign, and indeed the whole year as a political “story”

    If so they would have to be honest to expose themselves as creative story-tellers, constructing a “narrative” of colour and movement…

    journalism as a subset of creative accounting: this teams UP!!!!, this teams DOWN!!!!

    trouble is, they sold and bought-back the line of Rattus Howard, Politicus Perfectus….

    they are a suitable mirror for the narcissus of the likes of howard, costello and downer who glory in the reflected beauty of the front pages of the GG…

    and Alex, how long did it take to learn your few sentences of schoolboy french?

    repeat after me: la plume de ma tante…..

  22. 172
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:41 pm | Permalink

    I’ve put up a new thread on the ACNielsen poll.

  23. 173
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:42 pm | Permalink

    What fitztig said, with only 10% taken after Howard launch, so only 10% taken accounting for Rudds launch anf his extraordinary love in with the media….THE AUSTRALIAN in particular!! hang on for Clarke and Dawe.

    oorroo gurus

  24. 174
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:43 pm | Permalink

    Kewel!

  25. 175
    Diogenes
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:43 pm | Permalink

    Cornes stabbed again on ABC News for not answering questions. But Mia looked fantastic. Gillard “stepped in to protect Nicole”. The media here really hate her. But ABC led the Neews with the Auditor G damning report on “Handouts for Coalition Sycophants with $350M of Taxpayer Money” or words to that effect.

  26. 176
    Kev
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:44 pm | Permalink

    Just saw a Pyne add on TV, the first time in 14 years he has ever bothered to do this.

  27. 177
    charles
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:56 pm | Permalink

    Possum Comitatus Says:
    November 15th, 2007 at 6:51 pm

    There’s only so many times you can “oooh, look at that poll -It’s just like the last 46? and make it sound interesting!

    It’s your headings that keep driving me back to your sight.

    “Hi, I’m Kevin and I’m here to make your kids a nerd like me.”

  28. 178
    AJH
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 8:07 pm | Permalink

    The Bob Baldwin (Liberal) advertising in Paterson has been totally insane. Literally every second ad on the TV tonight has been extolling the virtues of Big Bob and the dangers of Labor.

    He’s also been advertising heavily on the radio, telling us how he will roll back Morris Iemma’s “on the spot fines” for car thieves, and launch a programme to install CCTV cameras throughout the Hunter region. Great Federal policies there, Bob.

  29. 179
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 8:42 pm | Permalink

    Mr Bowe you said that there was a new tomorrows ACNEILson thread? Is there? I cant seem to see one.

    Regards
    Concerned.

  30. 180
    jimmy
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 10:54 pm | Permalink

    look for a sturt poll on the advertiser site tonight, with better news for the alp

  31. 181
    D
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 11:18 pm | Permalink

    I live in the Sturt electorate, and I must say Pyne certainly has been more visible and active this election, even before it was announced. This leads me to think that Liberal internal polling has it close with Pyne trying to preemptively buck the swing.

    That particular roundabout in question has been a shocker for years but I think he’s grasping at straws. People have learnt to deal with it, I doubt anyone really cares and it’s hardly a priority.

  32. 182
    Midnorthcoast
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 11:22 pm | Permalink

    I would love to know Big Bob’s budget for a seat with a 6+% margin – it must be at least 300K. If this is his own money he is welcome to the seat, if it’s party money they must now more about it than the Newcastle Herald poll does. As the Herald is very Newcastle focussed and this poll looks like an amateur inhouse job, I wonder if they polled the 65 phone areas as well as the 49 ones.

  33. 183
    Karl
    Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 11:57 pm | Permalink

    Further comment on posts 85 (Triffid) and 86 (ShowsOn):

    “What the papers say”, Tony Delroy’s show, just had a chat with a journo from the Adelaide Advertiser. The journo said a poll to be published in the paper tomorrow (Friday 16 Nov) in Sturt had the Labor candidate firming; he referred to a 51-49 2pp favouring Pyne.

  34. 184
    Joe
    Posted Sunday, November 25, 2007 at 5:04 am | Permalink

    Pyne declares victory at 9.30PM with a just over 1% margin. But the last update of the official AEC website for Sturt at 11.38PM has Mia Handshin down by only 79 votes? 36201 vs 36280. 49.95% vs 50.05%. She needs a 6.8% swing and its currently 6.75%. At 4AM the AEC have it listed as the closet seat in the nation? It’d be just fantastic if the plum-mouth has counted his chickens too soon.

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