Saturday, 4th February, 2006 - Probably it is just a coincidence but the Newspoll in The Australian had support for The National Party jumping considerably this week. For the last three months this pollster had The Nationals doing significantly worse than the actual 5.9% share of the vote they gained at the election of October 2004. But then, just when the question of the AWB rorting the system to the advantage of wheat growers starts getting publicity, the 4% support jumps to 7%!

The other thing pointing in the direction of a revival for Mark Vaile and his team is Alan Ramsey deciding that the National Party is finished. See his column in the Sydney Morning Herald today under the headline "A party going down the plughole".

For my view see National Party Vote Slide Serious But Not Terminal.