WILL Hodgman has remained tight-lipped for months on the question of when the state election will be held.
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He has been consistent in saying he expects the poll will be held in March 2018, but as for a date, he has kept us guessing.
Even on Tuesday, when he was rallying the troops at the party’s northern headquarters, he was not giving anything away.
It all seems absurd since there are really only three realistic dates.
There are two long weekends in March, with a public holiday for Eight Hour Day on March 12, and the Easter break beginning with Good Friday on 30 March.
That leaves March 3, 17 and 24.
Both Labor and the Greens are tipping March 17 – St Patrick’s Day, which is also the date of the South Australian state election.
Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne pointed out that the weekend of March 24 will see the opening round of the AFL season.
While the premier’s Cats are not playing till the Sunday, he is unlikely to want to upset football-mad voters by calling an election for a date that many may find inconvenient.
The first Saturday, on the other hand, would mean less time for the Liberals to improve their chances.
Since Rebecca White took the Labor leadership the opposition’s polling has improved, making a hung parliament more and more likely.
The government has ramped up its advertising, warning against another minority Labor-Green government, which in turn has seen accusations from all sides of negative campaigning.
In effect, the campaign began a while ago now, but it is when the election is officially called that it will really kick into gear.
And that is why the premier is keeping the date so close to his chest – it gives his party an advantage.
The government can plan with more certainty, while keeping the opposition parties – and the rest of us – guessing.
Until the election is called, the Liberals are also able to continue to govern, with all the benefits of being in government.
When Mr Hodgman does announce the date he will have the opportunity to make the first pitch to voters of the official campaign; to try to set the tone for days to come.
Election campaigns are all about momentum, and deciding when the starter’s gun goes off gives the premier an edge.
Given those polls, he is unlikely to tell us the date until he is good and ready.