Watson tops grassroots poll online

Incumbent Member of Parliament Peter Watson has topped a poll run by the Albany Advertiser on its Facebook page this week asking the community who they were most likely to vote for at next Saturday’s State election.

The grassroots poll received 856 votes at the time of going to print, with Mr Watson claiming more than half of those votes at 51 per cent.

Behind the current member things were a little tighter, with The Nationals’ Robbie Sutton sitting on 18 per cent of the vote ahead of the Liberals’ Greg Stocks on 12 per cent and the Greens’ David Rastrick on 9 per cent.

One Nation candidate Anthony Griffiths is second from the bottom on 7 per cent with Australian Christian Ian ’t Hart bringing up the rear with 4 per cent.

While it would be foolish to draw any strong inferences from a Facebook poll, the result does reflect the odds being offered by a leading sports betting company.

As of yesterday Mr Watson was paying $1.15 ahead of Mt Sutton at $6, in from $8 earlier in the week.

Mr Stocks was listed at $11 out from $10 earlier in the week.

With less than 10 days remaining before polling day Mr Watson is the betting favourite but there are not too many pundits willing to call this race just yet.

The candidates will face off at a breakfast hosted by Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday morning.