By NOEL MURPHY
BOOKIES rate Liberal Sarah Henderson an unbackable favourite to win Australia’s most-marginal seat at Saturday’s federal election.
Sportsbet has Ms Henderson at $1.001 in Corangamite compared to Labor incumbent Darren Cheeseman on $9.
Centrebet and Sportingbet ranked Buddy Rojek, a disendorsed Palmer United Party candidate now standing as an independent, equal with the Greens at $34.
Ms Henderson brushed off her favouritism.
“The only poll that matters is the people’s poll on election day and I’ve been working hard for more than a year to be a strong local voice for this region,” she said.
“On Saturday it’s up to the people of Corangamite to choose between another three years of Labor chaos, division and dysfunction or a united and experienced Coalition team with a real plan to deliver for our region.”
Mr Cheeseman, who claimed the seat on preferences after Ms Henderson won the primary count in 2010, dismissed the odds.
“At the last election the odds were the same and I won. I wouldn’t encourage betting but these odds do not reflect the closeness of the campaign.
“I’m the underdog but I believe that people will vote to support my plan for jobs to keep Geelong growing.”
Punters stand to make next to nothing on Labor in the seat of Corio, with Trade Minister Richard Marles’ 13.5 per cent margin drawing as little as $1.01 to the Liberals’ $11.
However, way2bet warned Mr Marles could expect to take a “savage hit” due to job losses and the pending closure of Ford’s manufacturing plant.
