William Bowe
Editor of The Poll Bludger @PollBludger
William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, is one of the most heavily trafficked forums for online discussion of Australian politics, and joined the Crikey stable in 2008.
It is the best of times (for Mike Baird), it is the worst of times (for Denis Napthine). How is it that the NSW government is able to maintain the goodwill of voters, while its Victorian counterpart languishes?
The NSW Liberals are hemorrhaging MPs in the wake of ICAC investigations. The latest victim is Londonderry MP Bart Bassett, whose recent history shows branch-stacking and factional squabbles aren't just for Labor.
The South Australian Liberal Party is trying to bastardise the Westminster system further to deliver it the results it wants. But Crikey's Poll Bludger says that's a lost cause -- it's time to think bigger.
The federal Coalition's standing in Queensland continues to deteriorate. One option could be to scapegoat the distressed Newman government. There's just one problem: Queensland's LNP is more popular (or, at least, less unpopular) than the Abbott government.
The NSW Liberal Party has a thorn in its side in the shape of Clover Moore. Since the people of Sydney love their Lord Mayor, what to do? Give businesses more votes.
The fallout from last week's ICAC hearings will likely upset the applecarts of both major parties. With two looming NSW byelections, who will fill the void? Or rather, who still has credibility in the eyes of the public?
Yes, Newspoll has recorded a fall in popularity for Labor. But don't be too quick to blame Rupert Murdoch -- the numbers tell a clearer story if you look a bit more closely.
New Zealanders will go to the polls in September, and another minority government is likely. But an Internet Party joint ticket could prove an interesting spanner in the works.
Among all the Liberal own goals last week, William Bowe nominates Senator Abetz for worst-on-ground for his unforced error through the minefield of abortion.
A deeper look into post-election polling trends reveals historical distinctions in how men and women react to leaders and political events -- and why Tony Abbott may have real cause for concern with the female vote.
