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ABC/Adelaide Uni poll: 51-49 in Boothby

ABC Adelaide has published a poll of 500 voters in Boothby, conducted by Adelaide University’s politics department, which has Liberal member Andrew Southcott leading Labor’s Nicole Cornes with 51.4 per cent of the two-party vote, compared with his 5.4 per cent margin from 2004. This figure was arrived at by asking voters about their preference intentions: using the probably more accurate method of following the last election results, the result was a narrower 50.5-49.5. Primary vote figures are 44.6 per cent per cent for Liberal, 37.3 per cent for Labor and 11.1 per cent for the Greens. The poll also covers Senate voting intention and has Nick Xenophon on 29.5 per cent – however, the poll was conducted on Monday and Wednesday and would not measure the effect of his unfortunately timed falling out with former colleague Ann Bressington.

UPDATE: Comments informs us that Adelaide Uni’s Clem McIntyre conceded the methodology here might have been a bit rough around the edges.

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59 Comments

  1. 1
    PeterOf Malvern
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:35 pm | Permalink

    I am very surprised at the high green vote here.
    What does any one make of it.

  2. 2
    Asanque
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:37 pm | Permalink

    A lot of people don’t like either of the candidates :P

  3. 3
    Tess from Leonay
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:38 pm | Permalink

    Preferences will go haywire in this one

  4. 4
    NB
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:38 pm | Permalink

    Wasn’t the last Adelaide Uni poll discredited here? Tiny sample size, result could be anything.

  5. 5
    paladin
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:39 pm | Permalink

    Jesus wept! I thought Nic was dog food. If this is like this in Boothby Pyne must be shi@@g bricks in Sturt. This would be a great buffer gainst the loss we’ll receive from the secessionist WA lot.

  6. 6
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:39 pm | Permalink

    Their Sturt poll had a very small sample, but this one’s much bigger.

  7. 7
    NB
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:40 pm | Permalink

    Ta

  8. 8
    Kina
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:42 pm | Permalink

    She will be hoping undecideds break strongly her way. Go Nicole!

  9. 9
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:43 pm | Permalink

    An interesting senate if these figures were statewide:

    2 Lib
    2 Xen
    1 ALP
    1 Grn ? (Maybe another Labor)

  10. 10
    Big Blind Door Knocker
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:44 pm | Permalink

    She’s coming back, she’s coming back

  11. 11
    The Finnigans
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:46 pm | Permalink

    After all the bad, i mean bad, press that she got and she is still at 49. you have to say this is a good achievement even if she loses.

  12. 12
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:50 pm | Permalink

    She’s going to lose. Any Labor candidate who isn’t in front in the polls, and hasn’t been in front in a single one that I can remember, has no chance.

  13. 13
    Dave S
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:51 pm | Permalink

    Nicole is not coming back. She didn’t even turn up for this morning’s ABC Radio candidate’s forum (well respected event) in Marion Cultural Centre in the heart of her electorate. Her minders are too scared she screws up on the last day of the campaign. This seat won’t fall because Nicole Cornes is a poor candidate. Meanwhile Bruce Hull, the man the ALP were tipped to select for the seat prior to Cornes been thrust upon them (by Treasurer Kevin Foley) spent the forum standing outside, handing out how-to-votes at the pre-polling booth … in a GREEN T-SHIRT. Greens vote will be high. Independent Ray McGhee showed at this morning’s forum that he was well out of his depth and doesn’t have a clue about big policy issues, he’ll be regretting his decision to quit Channel 9 for this ill-conceived bid for the top. Libs to hold this seat with a largely unchained margin of around 5%.

  14. 14
    Nayto
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:52 pm | Permalink

    I plugged the ABC’s senate figures into Antony Green’s calculator and got Lib-X-Lib-Lab-X-Lab. But it needs to be said that this *is* an urban electorate so X’s figures are sure to go down overall.

  15. 15
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:55 pm | Permalink

    Nayto:

    Yeh those senate figures are only of novelty interest. Labor will get more than 28% in the senate.

  16. 16
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:55 pm | Permalink

    I’m hearing talk though that Clem McIntyre of Adelaide Uni said on ABC Radio this morning their methology might have been a bit rough around the edges.

  17. 17
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:56 pm | Permalink

    I’d only use the Senate figures as a sort of anecdotal guide to Nick Xenophon’s chances. To that extent at least it’s of interest.

  18. 18
    Dave S
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 4:59 pm | Permalink

    Yes William, Clem said that it was a very basic poll, as far as I know students just rang up a bunch of people, both polls carried out early evening on two nights (60% on Monday and 40% on Wednesday). He said a margin of error of ‘4, 5 or 6%’.

    Also, if Labor failed to get a second senator (highly unlikely) it would cull star performer Penny Wong who was shunted down the ticket at the hands of union heavy Don Farrell (another exam of talent being kicked at the hands of unions), but this is all speculation as I expect Wong to be easily returned. The third Labor senator would appear unlikely and everyone has written off veteran Liberal Grant Chapman.

  19. 19
    Matthew Sykes
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 5:03 pm | Permalink

    The high green vote is not surprising to me; this is the old democrats heartland (at least part of the seat is). A lot of these ex-democrat voting types would never vote labor, but are pissed off with the liberals so they will park their vote somewhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if green preferences don’t flow quite as strongly for labor in this seat as some others. However, the highish green vote gives some optimism for Cornes’ chances.

  20. 20
    Matthew Sykes
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 5:06 pm | Permalink

    On the Xenophon issue, I think he’s had enough bad publicity to at least dent some of his vote, but all that means is his fellow group S member won’t have a chance. I guess it comes down to how much surplus he has.

  21. 21
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 5:08 pm | Permalink

    Xenophon’s troubles might be bad news for the Greens. They will be relying on his surplus.

  22. 22
    Matthew Sykes
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 5:10 pm | Permalink

    Labor’s 3rd candidate might be back in business after Xenophon’s troubles perhaps. Will keep us all guessing for the next week or two i suppose.

  23. 23
    Brenton Head
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 5:37 pm | Permalink

    Why the surprise at the high Green vote in Boothby? In the seat of Waite, the Greens polled 10% at the last State election. There are many Green Party members who live in the electorate and also many committed Greens voters. The Senate is far too difficult to predict in any way. People will have to see the figures from tomorrow night onwards. Xenophon may not get as many votes as people think. Word has got around town that he is splitting his preferences equally between The Greens and Family First. I know a number of people who wont take any chances and vote for the Greens directly. My only hope is that the Liberal Senator Grant Chapman wont be re-elected, one of the most conservative right-wing homophobes in the Federal Parliament.

  24. 24
    Therapy
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 5:49 pm | Permalink

    There is very little value in this poll. Nicole has no chance. Not turning up to the ABC Local debate was the nail in her coffin. The interviews with local voters in the local paper was a lot more revealing from a qualitative point of view. Many ALP voters resent Nicole’s candidacy.

    Boothby is quite a diverse electorate: moneyed ex-hippies voting Green, old-money elite voting Liberal, factory-working union members voting Labor. A phone poll here would have to be conducted very carefully to be of any use.

  25. 25
    Matt C
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 6:10 pm | Permalink

    Hi William,

    I enjoyed your seminar presentation this morning at UWA. I was the guy in the tie who asked about the effect of landlineless households on the accuracy of polling. Just thought I’d say hi!

    Matt

  26. 26
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 6:11 pm | Permalink

    Thank you Matt.

  27. 27
    Steven Kaye
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 6:14 pm | Permalink

    Well, the little nitwit can always get a job working with the blind. The blond leading the blind. Heh.

  28. 28
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 6:29 pm | Permalink

    Nicole is Labor’s best candidate in SA because of her patent honesty, sincerity and hard work ethic and the fact that she is not a political apparatchik.

    Nick X will benefit from the unprovoked and gratuitous attack on him from the woman who owes him her place in parliament.

  29. 29
    Nick
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 6:34 pm | Permalink

    I’d say Mia Handshin is the ALP’s best candidate in SA…

  30. 30
    Howard Hater
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 6:43 pm | Permalink

    I’ll go out on a limb and predict both Mia Handsin and Nicole win tomorrow.

  31. 31
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 6:52 pm | Permalink

    #30 That’s my wish too.

  32. 32
    Therapy
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 7:11 pm | Permalink

    I haven’t enjoyed what I’ve heard from Mia, but I hope she beats Pyne. I’ll be voting for Nicole here in Boothby tomorrow, but not necessarily liking it. I think Mia will get closer than Nicole. Everything Phil has said about Nicole is true, but she has failed to express that to the voters at large.

  33. 33
    mad cow
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 7:12 pm | Permalink

    So what did William say, in response to the effect of landlineless households?

  34. 34
    ICMore
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 7:35 pm | Permalink

    I did say weeks ago she would win and mia would lose, oh well such is life for cassandra

  35. 35
    ICMore
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 7:43 pm | Permalink

    Nick (aka mia) u always say that about mia, Pyne will win Nic, nicole has a chance, oddly enough it may all come down to Nicole, who has been sorely undermined by rejected left candidates. Nicole has far better ALP credentials than Mia I’m Afraid

  36. 36
    ICMore
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 7:45 pm | Permalink

    Therapy I would say ALP voters feel sorry for Nicole who has been monstered by the left via the local media, more ALP voter resent Mia and her background

  37. 37
    Observer
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 8:21 pm | Permalink

    Last w/e I was on the hustings in a tourist spot in Sydney. Plenty of people had pre-polled, locals, intra-state and inter-state. Many said they had voted 1 Green 2 Labor. I think it’s just something people are doing this time round.

  38. 38
    Dave S
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 9:09 pm | Permalink

    I’m now predicting Libs to retain Makin, Boothby and Sturt. I would almost go out on a limb and say that Kingston is also not a guaranteed Labor gain. There will be a strong flow of Family First votes in the latter.

  39. 39
    Therapy
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 9:21 pm | Permalink

    Makin! Now that’s just crazy talk!

  40. 40
    Fargo61
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

    Hi William,

    Was your seminar presentation this morning at UWA recorded? Any chance of seeing it at say Youtube?

  41. 41
    I C Moore
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    Dave s Makin??? even with trish drapers negative vote from her boyfriend scandals, possible making it harder than it looks surely it couldn’t be?

  42. 42
    Triffid
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 9:37 pm | Permalink

    There’s no way Makin will hold for the Libs

  43. 43
    SirEggo
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 10:00 pm | Permalink

    10 hours to go….

  44. 44
    Doug
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 10:17 pm | Permalink

    The betting shows Kingston. Wakefield and Makin gone, as they say, for all money.

    Boothby and Sturt are the electorates in contest in South Australia.

  45. 45
    Brenton Head
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

    Dave S. I work in Makin! Work Choices is a HUGE subject in Makin. The Liberal, Bob Day, is a multi- millionaire, who wants to make working people suffer even more. I have had a lot of feedback. People dont trust him and he will only represent his own interests and not those of the community in general. The huge placards that Day has around Makin , also shows he has ‘a small one’ !!!!! Get a grip about Family First Preference flows, the Greens will outpoll FF for sure in Kingston and Labor will get ALL of those. The Greens votes will be crucial to Labor winning government.

  46. 46
    BlaBla
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 10:23 pm | Permalink

    Makin. I am polling Fairview Park tomorrow and I still think it’s tight. Nevertheless I still think it will be a 3% swing to Zappia unless there is a huge overnight swing back to Day (and Howard mind you.)

    And in three hours time I will be giving my tip.

    And a question:

    What involves giving out how to vote cards or scrutineering for a party on the day, since I am doing one or the other.

  47. 47
    C-Woo
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 10:25 pm | Permalink

    Question:

    How does everyone think Makin (my electroate) will go?

  48. 48
    Trevor
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 10:37 pm | Permalink

    30
    Howard Hater Says:
    November 23rd, 2007 at 6:43 pm
    I’ll go out on a limb and predict both Mia Handsin and Nicole win tomorrow.

    I hope your right. I’ve put small bets on Nicole (Boothby), Mia (Sturt) and Maxine (Bennelong) together with Mike (North Sydney). That hopefully will keep my interest up in the night.

  49. 49
    Aussieguru01
    Posted Friday, November 23, 2007 at 10:44 pm | Permalink

    This is GOLD - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/opinion/animations/0,25199,19,00.html

  50. 50
    Crikey Whitey
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 12:26 am | Permalink

    The Speaker at 12.

    ‘She’s going to lose. Any Labor candidate who isn’t in front in the polls, and hasn’t been in front in a single one that I can remember, has no chance’.

    Converse is true, needless to say. Any Lib candidate etc…………..

  51. 51
    Crikey Whitey
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 12:29 am | Permalink

    C-Woo at 14

    Are you ready for a great night?

    Everything points in the ‘right direction’ for Makin.

    Have great fun!

  52. 52
    Crikey Whitey
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 12:30 am | Permalink

    47, sorry C-Woo.

  53. 53
    Amaranthus
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 1:40 am | Permalink

    I’m a Makin voter, and there is a huge sense that Zappia is home and hosed. There is a lot of resentment towards Day and his HR Nicholls connection. Zappia is hugely popular among the green oriented voters because of his work on the Salisbury wetlands project and other environmental projects, overseen as Mayor. I predict an 11% swing in Makin.

  54. 54
    ALP Campaign Genius
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 1:42 am | Permalink

    Irrespective of methodology, the Adelaide Uni poll might be close to the mark in Boothby. I can’t see either candidate winning comfortably.

  55. 55
    Mathew Cole
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 4:53 am | Permalink

    That Nicholson animation is harsh…

    I like it!

    On the Boothby matter, I’ve always said that Labor shot itself in the foot by preselecting Cornes. However, once she was in, there was no graceful way to get her out, so the only thing they could do was leave her there.

  56. 56
    Matthew Sykes
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 7:20 am | Permalink

    Good luck to all my fellow south australian labor supporters and enjoy election day, don’t forget your sunscreen at the polling booth !

  57. 57
    Mathew Cole
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 8:06 am | Permalink

    On the Senate, I’ll take a punt - 2Lib, 2Lab, 1X, 1…..hmm, Grn.

  58. 58
    Dave S
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 10:00 am | Permalink

    Makin is close, much closer than polls are telling us. I’ve spoken to about 10 undecided voters from Makin this week. All have swung to the Libs in the last few hours. It was predicted the seat was lost in 2004.

  59. 59
    Dave S
    Posted Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 10:00 am | Permalink

    I’m not saying Bob will win but i think it’s too close to call.