Federal election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull turns to Magic Mike Baird for some help
MALCOLM Turnbull is so determined to claw back Labor’s opinion poll lead that he has enlisted the help of the man known as “Magic Mike”.
Federal Election
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PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull is so determined to claw back Labor’s opinion poll lead that he has enlisted the help of the man known as “Magic Mike” in the hope his popularity is contagious.
NSW Premier Mike Baird joined the PM in the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro in the state’s south yesterday, the same day Newspoll revealed Labor had retained its two-party preferred lead of 51 per cent to the Coalition’s 49 per cent after two weeks of the election campaign.
It is understood Mr Baird will continue popping up and is happy to help where he can.
Asked if he hoped Mr Baird’s popularity would rub off on him, Mr Turnbull smiled and said they were on a “unity ticket”.
“We are committed to growing jobs and growth on the far south coast. Mike Baird and I are on a unity ticket, committed to jobs and growth in NSW and, indeed, right across Australia,” Mr Turnbull said.
“We know that strong Liberal governments — two Liberal governments — each with a clear economic plan for jobs and growth, that’s the key to our future. That’s what our opponents don’t have.
“Mr Shorten has a spend-o-meter. He has a plan for spending and spending. He doesn’t know how to pay for it.”
Asked to rate Mr Turnbull’s campaign so far, Mr Baird said he was worried NSW would lose its triple-A credit rating if Mr Shorten won the election.
“I think (Mr Turnbull is) going great. There is no doubt it is a very tough election. I think what it does when an election is like this, it poses the question — who do you trust to manage the economy?” Mr Baird said.
Eden-Monaro is held with a
2.9 per cent margin by Liberal MP and close Turnbull ally Peter Hendy, who toured the electorate with Mr Turnbull and Mr Baird.
Originally published as Federal election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull turns to Magic Mike Baird for some help
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