Independent state election candidate and former Liberal Philip Penfold has apparently tried to set the cat among the pigeons by releasing results to a private poll he commissioned that, on face value, appear damaging for the Liberal Party.
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The findings of the two-candidate preferred survey found that Labor’s Jenny Aitchison was the top choice when placed head-to-head against Cr Penfold and Liberal candidate Steve Thomson respectively.
To win Maitland, Cr Penfold needs to divide the conservative vote and to poll more primary votes than Mr Thomson.
Cr Penfold said he believed the poll results meant Maitland was as good as lost for the Liberals.
But, as the saying goes, a week is a long time in politics.
With almost two months left until votes are counted there is ample time for the Liberal Party to prove Cr Penfold’s opinion wrong.
While the figures included in today’s page four story make interesting reading, it’s important to give them some context.
The poll results reflect the views of 711 of the more than 53,000 voters in the electorate.
While this may seem a relatively small sample of the voting public, it is statistically significant enough to reflect trends.
But it is hardly a death sentence for the Liberal Party.
The political gloves are off and no doubt we can expect, and this paper will report, strident and differing points of view from all candidates.
Cr Penfold’s strategy will be to cast himself as the best alternative for traditionally conservative and swinging and undecided voters.
But being an independent, Cr Penfold will have to work with whichever party forms government if he is elected in order to get the best deal for Maitland.
