South Australian election 2018: Challenge ahead for leaders in final days before SA state election

JUST eight days remain in the state election campaign. Here’s what the leaders need to do in the final sprint to the finish to win your votes.

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JUST eight days before election day, it’s hardly surprising many voters are struggling to find inspiration in a lacklustre campaign.

The three-way race between Labor, the Liberals and SA Best has created plenty of noise but there has been relatively little to grab the attention of mainstream voters grappling with the everyday pressures of work and family.

Typically, many voters engage only in the final days, even hours, so the leaders vying for votes have plenty of work ahead.

They will face a final test before 100 undecided voters in The Advertiser/Sky News People’s Forum on Wednesday night.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill (left), South Australian Opposition Leader Stephen Marshall (centre) and SA Best leader Nick Xenophon are seen at the SA Press Club for the leaders' public debate in February. Picture: AAP/Roy Vandervegt

Premier Jay Weatherill: Grabbed attention early with plans for trams to Norwood and North Adelaide, creating plenty of community discussion. But has struggled to overcome the hammer blow of a scathing ICAC report last week into the Oakden nursing home scandal. Mr Weatherill is pitching to extend Labor’s term in office to 20 years and vowing to serve a full term if re-elected, both extraordinarily tough to achieve. Facing the challenge of standing on Labor’s record while charting a vision for the future. Likely will dial up a fear campaign about Steven Marshall and Nick Xenophon, attempting to convince voters that change is dangerous in uncertain times.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall: The Liberals have had some success in making the case for change, helped enormously by the Oakden report and bolstered by their attack advertising targeting Mr Weatherill, in particular. They have put forward a credible plan, including payroll tax cuts and deregulating shopping hours. But the waters have been muddied by SA Best’s support, which remains relatively high, diminishing the focus on the Liberals as agents of change. Mr Marshall has eight days to seal the deal with voters, to convince them that he is the man to lead SA into a new era of prosperity. Many Liberals are brimming with confidence but there is a sense among some he needs some big final-week hits to cut through the noise and lure voters into Liberal ranks.

SA Best leader Nick Xenophon: As hyped as it was during the summer silly season, the Xenophon revolution seems highly unlikely. But it would be foolish to write off his chances of holding the balance of power, even if Mr Xenophon must be facing an uphill battle in the eastern Adelaide seat of Hartley, which he is contesting. Anecdotally, major party and hoteliers’ attacks are causing damage but the question remains, given overseas anti-establishment trends, of whether Mr Xenophon has widespread latent support. Mr Xenophon’s renewed focus on localised issues in target seats is likely his best bet. The People’s Forum is a big risk — Mr Xenophon does not look comfortable with leaders’ debates. This is possibly because his party is not geared up to match the two majors.