Word on the streets: How the LNP took Forde

THE stunning victory by the LNP in marginal Gold Coast seat Forde was delivered by a knockout punch at booths.

At the congested Upper Coomera State College, the intense mood contrasted to the relaxed vibe among voters on the tourist strip.

A young LNP male booth worker, his voice raised, told voters: “Stop Bill Shorten. He’s dangerous. He will wreck the economy.”

A teenage Labor booth worker opposite was just holding out the how-to-vote cards, politely apologising when he got in the way of voters. The ALP had chosen to keep it positive.

An LNP placard had the headline “Don’t believe Labor’s health lies”. Above it Labor posted a sign which read “This school will be $2,530,000 better off under Labor”.

Further north the Coomera Springs State School booth, the LNP’s entry placard had similar shock value: “Bill Means Boats – Don’t Vote Labor.”

Mr van Manen had a margin of 0.6 per cent. The polling in the final week showed himself and Mr Hardman on at 50 per cent after the sharing of preferences.

How did the LNP improve its vote by almost 3 per cent, Labor’s vote dive by 7 per cent and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation with few on the booths secure 11.34 per cent?

Not enough credence was given to a comment from a contact with workers on the pre-poll.

“Unprompted, voters are bringing up Pauline rather than Clive,” he said, a week out from Saturday. Not highlighted enough in the poll was when asked about their preferred Prime Minister, 50 per cent preferred Scott Morrison, 30 per cent Bill Shorten and 20 per cent were undecided.

All the polling did was make Labor feel comfortable and hardened the LNP for a street fight.

Mr Hardman who is proud of his campaign and his team told the Bulletin: “At the end of the day their campaign scared people into going to alternatives like One Nation.” On election day, when in trouble, find a bogeyman. Shorten fitted the bill.