Federal election 2022: The seats Morrison and Albanese are worried about

There’s no margin for error in the final days of the election campaign. This is a race to the finish. That’s why Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are crisscrossing the country.

In the dying days of the campaign to know the seats the leaders are worried about – or long shots they hope to pick up – all you have to do is follow the bouncing ball.

There’s no margin for error in these final four days, so each visit is chosen carefully and with reason.

Anthony Albanese went to Perth yesterday, in the Liberal held seat of Hasluck.

Going into the campaign Labor had been confident of winning three seats in the western state. Recent polling has suggested it could be closer to two.

Labor needs to pick up seven seats net to win government, and it was counting on a big win in WA to propel it towards the magic 76 seats to clinch victory.

Polling is in its favour, a recent YouGov poll commissioned by News Corp predicted a Labor win with 80 seats.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison shakes hands with Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch at the Cairns and District Darts Association Hall. Picture: Brendan Radke

But there are plenty of battlegrounds and unlike 2019, the ALP is being careful not to start the victory lap early.

Likewise, Scott Morrison made his second visit to the Queensland seat of Blair, what should be a stronghold for the ALP but Coalition sources believe they are a chance of picking it up between One Nation preferences and changing demographics.

Coming under pressure from the teal independents in Victoria and Liberal party dysfunction in NSW leaving the party without candidates until days prior to the election put the Coalition on the back foot in states in which it was hoping to hold ground.

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese pictured in Wanneroo, Perth visiting a pre polling booth. Pictured with Labor candidate Tracey Roberts. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It means they Coalition needs to go on the offensive in regional Labor seats like Blair in Queensland and Hunter in NSW, as well as seats like Lingiari and Solomon in the Northern Territory, if it hopes to retain power.

But Mr Morrison also made a lightning trip to the far north Queensland electorate of Leichhardt, a seat the LNP have been relatively confident of holding even in a close race.

Every seat matters, watch where the leaders go and expect a blitz in the final days.

Originally published as Federal election 2022: The seats Morrison and Albanese are worried about