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Sophie Mirabella feels heat from Cathy McGowan in Indi Sophie Mirabella feels heat from Cathy McGowan in Indi
(12 days later)
The independent candidate Cathy McGowan is perilously close to unseating rightwinger Sophie Mirabella in Indi, with more than half of the vote counted in the rural Victorian seat.The independent candidate Cathy McGowan is perilously close to unseating rightwinger Sophie Mirabella in Indi, with more than half of the vote counted in the rural Victorian seat.
It’s understood that around 90% of Labor and Greens preferences are going to McGowan, placing her within 900 votes of Mirabella, who served as the Coalition’s shadow science minister in the last parliament.It’s understood that around 90% of Labor and Greens preferences are going to McGowan, placing her within 900 votes of Mirabella, who served as the Coalition’s shadow science minister in the last parliament.
McGowan has won 33% of the primary vote, with Mirabella on 43.2%, down 7.7% on 2010.McGowan has won 33% of the primary vote, with Mirabella on 43.2%, down 7.7% on 2010.
The gap in primary vote is being bridged due to the decision by Labor and the Greens to preference McGowan first. However, the Labor vote has collapsed by around 17% in Indi, which is traditionally a staunchly conservative seat.The gap in primary vote is being bridged due to the decision by Labor and the Greens to preference McGowan first. However, the Labor vote has collapsed by around 17% in Indi, which is traditionally a staunchly conservative seat.
McGowan’s campaign said that the independent had polled strongly in regional urban areas such as Wodonga and Wangaratta. However, postal votes are expected to favour Mirabella.McGowan’s campaign said that the independent had polled strongly in regional urban areas such as Wodonga and Wangaratta. However, postal votes are expected to favour Mirabella.
Mirabella has locked media representatives out of her election night function in the electorate.Mirabella has locked media representatives out of her election night function in the electorate.
A spokesman for McGowan told Guardian Australia that the feeling among volunteers was “jubilant".A spokesman for McGowan told Guardian Australia that the feeling among volunteers was “jubilant".
“People are ecstatic over the outcome, whether we win or lose,” he said. “Sophie’s primary vote has been completely slashed. This afternoon I would’ve said we couldn’t do it; it has been a tense day and the mood among volunteers was pretty flat.“People are ecstatic over the outcome, whether we win or lose,” he said. “Sophie’s primary vote has been completely slashed. This afternoon I would’ve said we couldn’t do it; it has been a tense day and the mood among volunteers was pretty flat.
“But we are now very excited about the outcome. I think that we can do it, yes.”“But we are now very excited about the outcome. I think that we can do it, yes.”
McGowan says it will be days before it is known whether she has beaten Mirabella, but said she has succeeded in making the seat of Indi marginal.McGowan says it will be days before it is known whether she has beaten Mirabella, but said she has succeeded in making the seat of Indi marginal.
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