The Labor Party has take the rare step of launching a TV and radio advertising blitz as it seeks to press home its advantage in the Ryan by-election. With polling showing that the Liberals are headed for a trouncing, the Opposition Leader, Mr Beazley, will campaign in Ryan today and Thursday, and the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, will visit the electorate on Wednesday. A Newspoll published in The Australian on Saturday estimated Labor's two-party preferred vote at 58 per cent, with the Liberals at 42 per cent. The ALP national secretary, Mr Geoff Walsh, said he thought this was the first time the ALP had done television ads for a metropolitan by-election. The TV advertising started last night and runs until Wednesday night.
Parties shy away from TV in by-elections because of the high cost to reach a single electorate.
There is one TV ad and half a dozen different radio ads. It's obviously very tough. I'll be campaigning for at least another day. I haven't blown hot and cold about my interest in Ryan. Labor is keeping up a campaign on pensions and rent assistance payments which is also targeted at Ryan, where there are a high proportion of pensioners and students.