Warren Mundine had his eyes set on the Sydney federal seat of Bradfield, believing he could bring about change and “Make Bradfield safe again.” His campaign received backing from notable figures like former prime minister Tony Abbott and senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. However, despite his efforts, Mundine faced a setback when he lost the Liberal party preselection bid for Bradfield.
The competition was tough, with centrist candidate Gisele Kapterian emerging victorious over Mundine and heart specialist Michael Feneley. Kapterian managed to secure over 200 preselection votes, leaving Mundine trailing behind with only 171 votes. Feneley garnered 16 votes from the preselectors. The local councillor Barbara Ward had withdrawn from the race earlier in the week, paving the way for a head-to-head battle between Kapterian and Mundine.
Mundine’s loss sparked concerns among Liberal moderates who feared that he might not be able to secure Bradfield, especially since it was the sole Liberal-held seat in Australia to vote yes in the voice referendum. Despite his strong stance on making Bradfield safe, there were doubts about whether Mundine could resonate with voters in the area.
Mundine’s Vision vs. Kapterian’s Promise
Kapterian, a seasoned executive at Salesforce who had previously been preselected in North Sydney (a seat soon to be abolished), gained support from opposition deputy leader Sussan Ley. Ley touted Kapterian as representing the future of Bradfield amid a growing independent voter base in the region following Paul Fletcher’s decision to retire.
“I believe she affords us the greatest chance of success… where the teal machine could potentially pour millions of dollars into trying to unseat us,” Ley expressed optimistically about Kapterian’s potential impact on securing Bradfield for the Liberals.
Former Liberal treasurer Joe Hockey also threw his weight behind Kapterian, describing her as having what it takes to potentially lead the Liberal party in the future. With such influential figures backing her candidacy, Kapterian seemed poised to give a tough fight against any challengers eyeing Bradfield.
Mundine’s Battle Cry
Mundine’s campaign was fueled by a desire to reclaim Bradfield under liberal values without compromising or shifting towards a more moderate stance just to appeal to voters. In an 11-page document obtained by Guardian Australia, he emphasized, “We mustn’t define ourselves by reference to our opponents but must champion what we stand for as Liberals.”
His rhetoric aimed at reiterating core Liberal values rather than adapting them based on political trends or opponents’ strategies. However, this approach seemed risky given that political landscapes are often shaped by flexibility and adaptability rather than strict adherence to ideology.
As election season loomed closer, all eyes were on how this political saga would unfold – with Mundine facing defeat but still holding onto hope for future endeavors while Kapterian geared up for an intense electoral battle ahead.
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