Palmer ad blitz tipped to pay off

CONTROVERSIAL mining magnate Clive Palmer looms as a potential federal election kingmaker, with both major parties conceding his megamillion dollar advertising blitz could win a handful of Senate seats.

The billionaire Queenslander, who is bankrolling more than 150 candidates with his United Australia Party, announced yesterday he would stand for the Senate in his home state.

One advertising industry source said his “conservative” estimate was that he had spent “at least” $5 million on outdoor advertising in Melbourne and millions more on TV and in newspapers nationally.

“You’ll see that we’ll be in the Senate. There’s no question about that,” Mr Palmer said. “I’m confident … we’ll have the balance of power in the Senate.”

His rise in polls — which one party strategist called the “f--- you vote” — could potentially be critical in many marginal Coalition- held seats, with both Liberal and Labor now considering preference deals.

A senior Liberal familiar with the party’s research said voters were starting to say they would vote for Mr Palmer’s party.

“He wasn’t coming up at all but in the last couple of weeks his name is emerging,” the Liberal said.

The latest Newspoll put support for the United Australia Party at 4 per cent but a Labor source said “it will be higher now”.

Mr Palmer is understood to be paying many of his candidates and will also pay “volunteers” to staff polling booths in the lead-up to May 18.

Sources said the United Australia Party was now seen as a “very real chance” to gain the sixth Senate spot in Victoria because it was eating into the major party vote and, in particular, One Nation.

Mr Palmer said yesterday his polling showed that his party would win six Senate spots.

In 2013, Mr Palmer won the Lower House seat of Fairfax in Queensland, and Senate seats in Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.

The party fell apart with Jacqui Lambie and Melbourne Storm premiership hero Glenn Lazarus, deserting less than a year into their terms.