Labor’s strategy in South Australia

Posted by Michael on February 21, 2009, 5:16pm, 277 views

Liberal Party members believe the ALP has adopted a new strategy in its bid to retain office at the 2010 election.

The Frome byelection triumph of Labor-leaning independent Geoff Brock has raised hopes in the Labor camp that Martin Hamilton-Smith may have to fight a rearguard action to retain seats in the Liberals’ rural heartland.

The theory goes that high-profile independent or National Party candidates might poll more votes than Labor in country seats and win on Labor preferences if the Libs fail to get more than 45 percent of the primary vote.

The Libs are clearly rattled and will probably need to spend more in country seats than they originally expected.

In Mount Gambier, local mayor Steve Perryman was cruising as the Liberal candidate to replace retiring independent Rory McEwen until Grant District Council mayor Don Pegler declared this week he would consider running as an independent.

Perryman defeated Pegler for Liberal preselection.

The Libs believe it is no coincidence that local ALP members have come out swinging against Perryman since the Frome byelection.

Liberals believe Labor is punching away to bruise Perryman in the hope of helping an independent to retain the seat.

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Comments

2 Responses to “Labor’s strategy in South Australia”

  1. Jay Wayne on April 9th, 2009 12:41pm

    I really do hope Peglar decides to run – he at least has the guts to stand up for Mount Gambier. He will probably re-join the liberals anyway but atleast we will have a strong voice against the adeladie politicians that think SA stops at the hills.

    Perryman is only fighting for his own self interest.

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