Labor poll says Asher support is slipping

POLLING prepared for the Labor Party in Corangamite shows the net “favourability rating” of Liberal candidate Stephanie Asher has dropped significantly since November.

A YouGov poll of 400 people last November found Ms Asher had a “relatively good” net favourability rating for a new candidate at 12 per cent – a favourable rating of 31 per cent and unfavourable rating of 19 per cent.

But polling by Community Engagement Survey of about 850 people from April 28 to May 1, after Ms Asher’s Anzac Day “mistake”, showed her net favourability rating was -0.8 per cent – a favourable rating of 28.4 per cent and an unfavourable rating of 29.2 per cent.

Further Community Engagement Survey polling of about 900 people on May 13-14 showed Ms Asher’s net favourability rating was -3.6 per cent – an unfavourable rating of 31.7 per cent and a favourable rating of 28.1 per cent.

Polling at the weekend, prepared for Labor by Community Engagement Survey, showed the Liberal Party’s primary vote in Corangamite had dropped from 42.33 per cent to 35 per cent, while Labor’s primary vote was up from 35.47 per cent to 37 per cent.

A YouGov poll last week predicted Corangamite was set for a cliffhanger, revealing the Liberals had an edge but the seat was too close to call.

Ms Asher led Labor incumbent Libby Coker by 7 per cent on first preferences, it showed.

The polling prepared for the Geelong Advertiser found the first-preference vote in Corangamite gave 36 per cent to Labor, 43 to the Liberals, 10 to the Greens, three to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, four to the United Australia Party and four to other parties.