More than 2000 people have already cast their vote in Armidale as the countdown begins to next Saturday’s New England byelection.
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Tamworth has seen around 700 early voters queuing each day – with more than 3000 lodged.
Seventeen candidates have just eight more days to win over some 110,000 people enrolled to vote in the electorate.
Armidale-based Independent Rob Taber said he’s been busy travelling “up and down” the region for the past two weeks.
“I’m trying to get to as many places I can,” he told Fairfax Media on Wednesday night.
“It’s so difficult in such a short campaign but we are doing our best and certainly getting around all the major towns.”
Labor candidate David Ewings said he would use this weekend to do some door-knocking.
“It’s been great getting around with other shadow ministers and I’ll be down in my end of the electorate (Scone) this weekend,” he said.
Despite the absence of Nationals’ candidate Barnaby Joyce at this week’s public forums, he’s the favourite on Sportsbet at $1.05.
Punters have Mr Taber running second on $8 while Labor’s Mr Ewings is at $34.
CountryMinded’s Pete Mailer said he was “surprised” to be sitting third on $15. “It’s been very tough to juggle the farm and campaigning but I have a team of people helping,” he said.
Mr Mailer’s been around most of the electorate and said he’ll now have to dedicate some time to harvesting his crops. The byelection is on Saturday, December 2.