May 31, 2018
Volunteer effort boost Labour Northcote chances
The race for Northcote is tightening, with Labour party polling putting its candidate Shanan Halbert just two percent behind National’s Dan Bidois with 10 days to go.
National’s Jonathan Coleman won the seat by more than 6000 votes in the general election.
Labour MP Willie Jackson, who spent yesterday in the electorate campaigning alongside Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, says there’s a sense Mr Bidois can be beaten.
"National are the incumbent. Incumbents are not supposed to lose seats like this. But he's struggling, and Shanan is a star candidate and he's got literally hundreds of volunteers out there now. Watch for the upset. This young fella's really doing the business this young man, he’s terrific," Mr Jackson says.
Early voting opened on Monday and the Electoral Commission says more than 700 votes are coming in each day, twice the rate of the general election.
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