Retiring MP Cathy McGowan says the Coalition is using a risky strategy to try to win Indi, promising millions of dollars in projects despite polling showing they will not get back into power.
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She has spent the past week decked in orange at the Wodonga pre-poll site asking people to vote for her successor Helen Haines as the next independent.
But she has also spotted some differences in the Coalition campaigns, compared to when she was running in 2013 and 2016.
"The really big difference this time was the pre-election promises. We didn't have that in nearly the same way in 2016," Ms McGowan said.
"Whether that pork-barrelling works or not will be really interesting to see."
Asked if the Coalition had improved its campaign strategy from three years ago, she replied "no, not really".
The odds and early polling say Liberal Steve Martin will win in Indi, but then become a backbencher when the Labor Party takes power - meaning the electorate could miss out on some of the promises.
"All the polling is showing that they're not going to be in government," Ms McGowan said. "I think that's a very risky political strategy."
Coalition candidates have remained confident of victory.
She said people of Myrtleford could be the losers from the campaign after the Coalition's $250,000 promise for a new scout hall.
"The community really wanted that scout hall, but if Steve doesn't get elected, they're not going to get it," she said. "The poor community, I feel very sorry for them because it's probably not going to happen."
In making the announcement, Mr Martin had said it "gives them the confidence to commence the detailed planning".
"This is a really good starting point. It may be that through council contribution, Scouts Victoria or the state government, they're able to do the full facility they would like to build," he said.
"We're able to invest in Indi as a direct dividend of a strong economy and because we're out hearing the needs of our communities and funneling them straight to those in power in Canberra."
Even the previous Indi MP cannot predict what will happen at the polls today, especially with such a high number of people voting early.
"We can't tell. We've all been talking about it, but we just have to see what happens with the results on Saturday night," Ms McGowan said.
"People are holding their cards pretty close to their chest. We haven't got a feel for what's going on."
Indi voters have a history of not following parties' suggested how-to-vote cards, so it could also come down to preferences.
In the meantime, Ms McGowan has enjoyed a chance to farewell voters directly from the polling booth.
"I get to say goodbye formally and sign off. It's a really nice way to end my political term, saying goodbye to Wodonga," she said.
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