Despite almost universally positive polling across NSW, SMH contributing editor Quentin Dempster said the government is starting to second guess itself with “Pendulum Panic” following the collapse of the Campbell Newman government in Queensland.
“The pendulum in NSW is not expected to be as volatile as Queensland, but with the unpopular Tony Abbott still leading the government in Canberra, young Mike Baird and all his 69 bear pit MPs or endorsed candidates are peddling furiously under the otherwise calm surface,” Mr Dempster said.
The magnitude of swing required by Labor still makes for a daunting, according to Mr Dempster who listed the seats to watch as East Hills, Swansea, Prospect, Macquarie Fields, Monaro, Newcastle, Rockdale, Oatley, Granville, Wyong, Maitland, Londonderry, Blue Mountains, Strathfield, Campbelltown and Coogee – all of which are held by less than 8.5%, and all but the National held Monaro currently in the hands of the Liberal Party.
Sydney Moring Herald state political editor Sean Nicholls points out that there are many other seats that sit outside that margin but in which the Coalition may still be in danger due to boundary redistributions and regional issues like Coal Seam Gas.
