State Labor has leaked polling showing it expects to cop a record swing of up to 27 per cent this Saturday. The by-election also comes amid a backdrop of two ministers quitting over scandals.
Premier Kristina Keneally has only bothered to visit the electorate four times thus far, while Mr O’Farrell has been there on more than 20 occasions.
The Premier has said the demands of her job have stopped her visiting more but there is no doubt Labor probably does not want to see her associated with a large loss.
She told The Daily Telegraph this month she expected a “very big swing” in the seat. “What’s concerning is they continue to raise with me what Karyn Paluzzano did and what’s been interesting is people will even say to me, ‘she was a good local member but she lied’,” she said.
The by-election is being closely watched by federal Labor strategists, who acknowledge that Mr Rudd himself might be an issue, despite it being a State seat.
A senior Labor source revealed internal Labor polling had shown many voters were now fed up with the Labor brand generally, both at a federal and state level, which could have serious implications for the Federal Government in NSW when it goes to the polls later this year.