Lib 'would need a miracle'

LIBERAL candidate Sarah Henderson has admitted she needs a "small miracle" to win the knife-edge seat of Corangamite.

LIBERAL candidate Sarah Henderson has admitted she needs a "small miracle" to win the knife-edge seat of Corangamite.

This is despite the gap closing between her and sitting Labor MP Darren Cheeseman.

The Australian Electoral Commission placed the Victorian seat back in its "close seats" category yesterday after the margin between Mr Cheeseman and Ms Henderson narrowed to just 735 votes with 94 per cent of the vote counted.

The final processing of postal votes -- which generally favour the conservative parties -- closed the gap between the candidates on a two-party-preferred vote.

Under the AEC criteria, any electorates in which the candidates are separated by less than 1 per cent of the vote are automatically considered close seats, even if there is little doubt over the eventual result.

Both camps were yesterday playing down the significance of the narrowing margin, saying Mr Cheeseman was likely to win the seat, which takes in Geelong and Victoria's southwest coast, by about 450 votes.

Ms Henderson, a former lawyer and ABC journalist, admitted she was unlikely to win it. "Given the trend of the votes to date, I think it is highly unlikely (we will) claw back the votes," she told The Australian yesterday.

Ms Henderson said the close race was even more frustrating given the hung parliament and the difference one extra seat would make to both parties.

"Short of a small miracle, we won't make it."

Ms Henderson is leading Mr Cheeseman in the primary vote, 41,785 to 36,727, but Greens preferences have helped the Labor incumbent over the line.