Can Nigel Smart win Norwood?

[spiderk]

With the election coming up, one piece of interest for footy fans is former Crow, Nigel Smart, standing as a Liberal candidate for the seat of Norwood. A bold move, not the least being standing in what has, until the last couple of elections, been a safe Labor seat and of course, the old seat of Don Dunstan. With this being the most marginal seat for the govt, can Smart defy the polls that suggest a swing to the ALP and be the first ex-AFL player to win a seat in the SA Lower House?

[Wedgie]

Nup, picked the wrong seat, most people that live in Norwood would have never heard of him.
If he was an artist appearing in the Adelaide Festival or the inventor of a new coffee he'd have a chance.
The whole election will be another disasterous result for the Libs in SA IMHO.
I've only ever voted Liberal at State level for obvious reasons but damn that advert with Rob Kerin stuttering and farting when asked why he'd make a good leader is funny as ****.

[Booney]

Nup, picked the wrong seat, most people that live in Norwood would have never heard of him.
If he was an artist appearing in the Adelaide Festival or the inventor of a new coffee he'd have a chance.
The whole election will be another disasterous result for the Libs in SA IMHO.
I've only ever voted Liberal at State level for obvious reasons but damn that advert with Rob Kerin stuttering and farting when asked why he'd make a good leader is funny as ****.

That Wedgie,is political advertising at tis very finest.LMAO.

He clearly has/had no response for that,and it will be a huge vote winner for Panther Rann.

[mick]

We have a shameless populist and spin doctor as Premier, the list of real achievements for this government is minimal, the Libs certainly need a more media savvy leader. As for Vini and Nigel, Vini hardly opens her mouth in Parliament, but she probably belongs to the correct ALP faction. I think Nigel would be an excellent member he is articulate and "smart" but as you said he hasn't invented a new type of coffee. The fact that he's not local will mean that he probably won't stand a chance.

[mick]

By the way Wedgie, Media Mike has said that public servants will retain their current awards/conditions, he and the other Premiers have mounted a court challenge against the Feds to maintain state awards. Interestingly and paradoxically Mr Iemma (NSW Labor Premier)has said he will get rid of 4,000 public servants and has forsaken the no-forced rendundancy policy. So I guess there is nothing to worry about

[am Bays]

It has got me **** how a winging POM who has spent time in a land that has dubious habits with sheep can be Premier of an Australian state.

It is interesting to note that every state govt has retained power since the GST funds started to roll in big time i.e 2002-03 financial year. That has had a major effect on 'state govts being good finacial managers as they have been able to retire debt.

Talk about a no name Labor Premier riding on the coat tails of a Liberal PM. At least Dusntan had values and a plan this bloke has just got cliches!!

[Wedgie]

It has got me **** how a winging POM who has spent time in a land that has dubious habits with sheep can be Premier of an Australian state.

Nothing suprises me these days, quite often I find myself wondering what happened to this country, this state and this city.
Having said that I still can't find a better country to live in, mind you if I could talk North into re-locating to Queensland I'd be there in a shot.

[Ian]

By the way Wedgie, Media Mike has said that public servants will retain their current awards/conditions,

Not that that is very much, someone doing the same job as me in NSW earns $18k more, QLD $12k more, VIC $8k more, and even Tas $6k more, can't tell me it cost's $18k a year more to live in Broken Hill, Wagga etc. than in Adelaide.

[mick]

By the way Wedgie, Media Mike has said that public servants will retain their current awards/conditions,

Not that that is very much, someone doing the same job as me in NSW earns $18k more, QLD $12k more, VIC $8k more, and even Tas $6k more, can't tell me it cost's $18k a year more to live in Broken Hill, Wagga etc. than in Adelaide.

ditto

[Brad]

I sometimes wonder who is premier, Rann or Foley??

Anything dodgy rann will get Foley to announce so he doesn't tarnish his so called clean image.

Im a Rob Kerin fan as I know him from my days in Crystal Brook but I don't think he wil get the liberals back in power

[U LEGS]

Hahaha. I was helping out at the NFC stall and the smart arse came by and we tried to sign him up for a membership. Brilliant idea!

[spiderk]

My guess would be a uniform swing of about 1 - 1.5% across the board toward Labor. While this will be stronger in seats such as Unley, for example, (local candidate factor of Michael Keenan), there may still be some swing toward the government in tradtional safer Liberal rural seats. Graham Gunn, for example, will have a tough job holding on to his seat, while the candidate selection in Finniss will go some way toward a swing toward the independent candidate.
IF my thoughts are right, spells real trouble for Liberals, and could lose up to 5 or more seats - condemning them to possibly another 8 years out of government.
For what its worth, if Smart does win Liberal, the high profile MAY see him elevated to a senior shadow cabinet position ahead of his time - simply based on popularity.

[Dutchy]

Nothing suprises me these days, quite often I find myself wondering what happened to this country, this state and this city.
Having said that I still can't find a better country to live in, mind you if I could talk North into re-locating to Queensland I'd be there in a shot.[/quote]

No good at the minute Wedgie - up on the Gold Coast currently for 10 nights and it wont stop raining or blowing* a gale...not happy

anyway i noticed Centrebet are betting on this seat - odds below -

CICCARELLO, Vini (Labor) 1.14

SMART, Nigel (Liberal) 4.50

VOTTARI, John (Family First) 101.00

MUSSARED, Cate (Greens) 201.00

WINDERLICH, David (Democrats) 201.00

[stan]

I cant see smart getting close. I think that Labor are going to belt the libs and hold a good majority. The libs just seem to be a bunch of whinging pratts at the moment.

[noone]

Smart wont get anywhere near. The fact he isn't a local is what will knock him out, you cant just parachute a candidate like smart into a seat like norwood, espically when he made several early blunders (orange lane markets )

well that and the massive swing towards the government.

Oh and Mick, I believe Vini is factionally unalligned.

[McAlmanac]

Nup, picked the wrong seat, most people that live in Norwood would have never heard of him.
If he was an artist appearing in the Adelaide Festival or the inventor of a new coffee he'd have a chance.

That is pathetic stereotyping at its worst. I'm sure everyone knows who Nigel Smart is - they DO have footy supporters around Norwood way. He'd have half a chance if he didn't have the appearance (I'm assuming he hasn't changed) of being smug and smarmy - exactly what people hate in politicians (a la Mike Rann).

Rob Kerin just doesn't have it. Great bloke, but not the dynamic leader that is needed.

[RustyCage]

He'd have half a chance if he didn't have the appearance (I'm assuming he hasn't changed) of being smug and smarmy - exactly what people hate in politicians (a la Mike Rann).

Everyone hates Mike Rann, thats why he will shit it in come March 18.

[stan]

He'd have half a chance if he didn't have the appearance (I'm assuming he hasn't changed) of being smug and smarmy - exactly what people hate in politicians (a la Mike Rann).

Everyone hates Mike Rann, thats why he will shit it in come March 18.

Exactly.....

[felicity shagwell]

Nup, picked the wrong seat, most people that live in Norwood would have never heard of him.
If he was an artist appearing in the Adelaide Festival or the inventor of a new coffee he'd have a chance.

That is pathetic stereotyping at its worst.

I agree McAlmanac, that kind of comment is deplorable. I can't help but wonder if Wedgie has ever actually lived in the Norwood electorate?

[mick]

Nup, picked the wrong seat, most people that live in Norwood would have never heard of him.
If he was an artist appearing in the Adelaide Festival or the inventor of a new coffee he'd have a chance.

That is pathetic stereotyping at its worst.

I agree McAlmanac, that kind of comment is deplorable. I can't help but wonder if Wedgie has ever actually lived in the Norwood electorate?

Give me a break Pleaaassee, it is obvious to anyone that this was a tongue in cheek comment taking the micky out of the Norwood cafe culture. Have we all become so politically correct