Labor and Liberal won't attack Hanson personally-polling shows it strengthens her
Polling shows personal attacks on Pauline Hanson strengthen her with about 15 per cent of her voters.
Labor and Liberal strategists ran focus groups and found that attacking Pauline Hanson personally makes her stronger with voters. About 15 per cent of Australians planning to vote One Nation feel a strong personal connection to Hanson.
For them, direct attacks strengthen her image as an outsider. About another 15 per cent back One Nation because they are frustrated with the major parties but have doubts about Hanson and might be persuaded differently.
One Nation recently attacked Liberal deputy Andrew Hastie, posting a cartoon calling him a traitor eight times and a gutless maggot in response to his testimony in the Ben Roberts-Smith case. Hanson called it satire and refused to remove it.
One Nation is trying to become a governing party, not just a grievance platform. Harsh personal attacks could push away its softer supporters.
- About 15 per cent of One Nation voters
- Strong Hanson supporters
- Andrew Hastie, deputy
- Liberal target
- Called it satire, refused removal
- Hanson response
Why it mattersUnderstanding how voters respond to political attacks reveals why One Nation is difficult to dislodge and shows how major parties must change their strategy to compete.
AustraliaAustralian voters considering One Nation face a shifting political landscape where the major parties are changing how they campaign, and where One Nation's own messaging choices may affect its electoral appeal.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 11 d ago
