By Luke Voogt
Labor’s Christine Couzens is backed to retain her seat of Geelong after her party ran a campaign branding opponent Darryn Lyons a “fake Liberal”.
Ms Couzens had 40 per cent of the vote in the latest You Gov Galaxy poll, ahead of Liberal candidate Freya Fidge on 28 per cent and Mr Lyons on 15 per cent.
She also led the two-party preferred vote 56 to 44.
Bookies had her odds at $1.14 on Wednesday, compared to Ms Fidge on $5 and Mr Lyons on $6, down from $9 on Monday.
“I don’t take representing the people of Geelong for granted,” Ms Couzens said.
“I’m hopeful that people will vote for better schools, hospitals and more jobs in our city.
“This campaign has been about what the Labor party plans to deliver for Geelong.”
But her party’s campaign also included bombarding Youtube with advertisements attacking Mr Lyons’ “fake abs“ and describing him as “fake independent”.
“People deserve to know what they’re voting for,” Ms Couzens said.
But she declined to respond to further questions on the personal nature of the campaign, which scores of Geelong voters have described as “body-shaming” on social media.
Mr Lyons slammed Labor’s “dirty” campaign.
Labor’s claims he opposed universal health care, penalty rates and education were “lies”, he said.
“Initially, I just laughed it off,“ Mr Lyons said.
“But the constant barrage took its toll on me and especially my family.”
Mr Lyons had tried to keep his campaign as “positive” as possible, he said.
“I couldn’t and wouldn’t spend millions on an advertising campaign abusing Christine Couzens.
“I think I’ve copped it more than Matthew Guy.”
Another independent candidate, Gottfried Wolf, authorised a similar advertisement accusing Labor of photo-shopping Ms Couzen’s campaign photos.
“Whose (sic) fake now”, the advertisement read.
Mr Lyons said he would not resort to such tactics and that elections should be about work rate and achievements, not photos.
But he compared the photos to Ms Couzens being accused lying to parliament earlier this year.
“Trying to make someone look years younger than they are, I think it’s just another lie.”
Mr Lyons was unphased by the odds and the polls heading into the election tomorrow.
“It doesn’t feel like that at the polling booths so far,” he said.
“I’m extremely positive, people have been fantastic.
“I already feel like I’ve won the election in Geelong in one way because (of) all the money flowing our way and all the promises.
“I only hope I’m there to hold them accountable.”
Ms Couzens said “if people want to play silly games on social media than that’s up to them” in response to Mr Wolf’s advertisement.
