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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/08/indi-cathy-mcgowan-not-optimistic-about-beating-sophie-mirabella
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| Indi: Cathy McGowan 'not optimistic' about beating Sophie Mirabella | Indi: Cathy McGowan 'not optimistic' about beating Sophie Mirabella |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Cathy McGowan, the independent candidate currently in a prolonged tussle with Coalition rightwinger Sophie Mirabella for the rural Victorian seat of Indi, has admitted that she is “not optimistic” about winning. | Cathy McGowan, the independent candidate currently in a prolonged tussle with Coalition rightwinger Sophie Mirabella for the rural Victorian seat of Indi, has admitted that she is “not optimistic” about winning. |
| McGowan, an agricultural consultant, has run a popular insurgent campaign against Mirabella, securing her 32% of the primary vote. | McGowan, an agricultural consultant, has run a popular insurgent campaign against Mirabella, securing her 32% of the primary vote. |
| Mirabella, who has held the seat since 2001, suffered a 7% swing against her, leaving her with a primary vote of 44%. | Mirabella, who has held the seat since 2001, suffered a 7% swing against her, leaving her with a primary vote of 44%. |
| Labor and the Greens have both preferenced McGowan first, meaning she is likely to pick up far more preference votes than Mirabella and thus making the race extremely close. | Labor and the Greens have both preferenced McGowan first, meaning she is likely to pick up far more preference votes than Mirabella and thus making the race extremely close. |
| However, Mirabella is currently around 2,500 votes ahead with 8,000 postal votes – thought to favour the incumbent – still to be counted. | However, Mirabella is currently around 2,500 votes ahead with 8,000 postal votes – thought to favour the incumbent – still to be counted. |
| McGowan told Guardian Australia: “I’m not optimistic, I have to say. It would be great if we got over the line, but she is the incumbent and she has had the money to spend. | McGowan told Guardian Australia: “I’m not optimistic, I have to say. It would be great if we got over the line, but she is the incumbent and she has had the money to spend. |
| “There was a huge last-minute investment in advertising in Indi. [Coalition politician] Barnaby Joyce was robo-calling everyone on Friday night. They also got outsiders to staff the booths and they weren’t used to the country way of doing things.” | |
| The Mirabella campaign would not comment publicly about the Indi race, which could drag on for days or even weeks if a recount is demanded. | The Mirabella campaign would not comment publicly about the Indi race, which could drag on for days or even weeks if a recount is demanded. |
| Although Indi has become a focal point for the media due to Mirabella’s controversial public image and the threat to her seemingly safe 9.5% margin, Liberals argue that large demographic shifts in Wangaratta and Wodonga means that the seat is no longer staunchly agricultural and so no longer reliably conservative. | Although Indi has become a focal point for the media due to Mirabella’s controversial public image and the threat to her seemingly safe 9.5% margin, Liberals argue that large demographic shifts in Wangaratta and Wodonga means that the seat is no longer staunchly agricultural and so no longer reliably conservative. |
| Mirabella is understood to be in good spirits, with Liberal strategists believing that her 44% vote share should be enough to see her retain the seat if followed up with strong backing in the postal vote. | Mirabella is understood to be in good spirits, with Liberal strategists believing that her 44% vote share should be enough to see her retain the seat if followed up with strong backing in the postal vote. |
| But she has been riled by what she sees as a coordinated campaign by leftwing parties and activists to unseat her in favour of McGowan. | But she has been riled by what she sees as a coordinated campaign by leftwing parties and activists to unseat her in favour of McGowan. |
| "We've been under assault from an extremely well organised Labor, union, Green, GetUp! campaign," she told her supporters on Saturday night, at an event that was initially closed to the media. | "We've been under assault from an extremely well organised Labor, union, Green, GetUp! campaign," she told her supporters on Saturday night, at an event that was initially closed to the media. |
| "We saw that this independent was anything but independent." | "We saw that this independent was anything but independent." |
| McGowan said that interactions between the two rival campaigns had become “tense” in the days leading up to the poll but insisted that her level of collaboration with unions or other parties was “zilch”. | McGowan said that interactions between the two rival campaigns had become “tense” in the days leading up to the poll but insisted that her level of collaboration with unions or other parties was “zilch”. |
| “That’s just so clearly wrong,” she said. “Around 7% of her vote came to me and that wasn’t coordinated in any way. If I am elected to Indi, I will represent all of the electorate, not just parts of it.” | “That’s just so clearly wrong,” she said. “Around 7% of her vote came to me and that wasn’t coordinated in any way. If I am elected to Indi, I will represent all of the electorate, not just parts of it.” |
| “The feeling last night was euphoric. We were extremely pleased with our level of support. People came on board because I truly am an independent, focused on the things political parties should be focused on, which is infrastructure and solving local issues. There’s a widespread feeling in Indi that people have been ignored and taken for granted.” | “The feeling last night was euphoric. We were extremely pleased with our level of support. People came on board because I truly am an independent, focused on the things political parties should be focused on, which is infrastructure and solving local issues. There’s a widespread feeling in Indi that people have been ignored and taken for granted.” |
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