New South Wales voters to have a beer with Hobson

"I would have too (voted for Brogden) *", Ian5

Voters are still flirting with the idea of a protest vote, the thing you traditionally do if you don’t want to change the government, and there is potential for one (Debnam has that much right) but it appears to be going against both major parties, and to Greens and Independents (but because there aren't enough of them in winnable seats this won't have much impact on the actual election result).

"That wouldn't send labor the right message and we could get caught. I'd rather vote independent" Ann11

"I think people are going to be voting green to send a message, not libs - which, with preferences will mean labor gets in again", Julie13

"not way in hell ... a pox on both their houses", robingail

"haha rotate", Susan10

"the message would be via an independent/green party", Helen2

And maybe there is an element of the social here. When you probe voters about their resistance to voting for the Coalition it comes down to issues of conservatism, class, personality, and religious fanaticism.

These aren’t characteristics that you tend to associate with most of the independents running in this election. While voters might think they can’t afford a good enough suit to drink with the “Member for Vaucluse”, they don’t harbour the same reservations about independents. So, if you can’t vote for them seriously, give them the Clayton’s version, the protest vote.

The Liberals electability is also affected to some extent by their association with the Federal Government. The ALP has run heavily on IR, but voters appear to be quite able to distinguish between levels of government when voting and know that this is a federal issue.

This group also seemed disinclined to buy Iemma's criticism of Debnam that he would cut 20,000 public service jobs and hand over industrial relations to Canberra.

But in a campaign sense perhaps these things are significant not because they think Debnam has any control over them or is will do them, but because it demonstrates the sort of social set that he moves in. Voters have never voted for John Howard because they like him, but because they think he is effective. Being his friend, but in another level of government where he has no direct power, means that you associate yourself with his character rather than his actions.

Voters would like to make a choice based on policy and performance. But while they agree with Debnam that the greatest risk this election is "that nothing changes", they don't see him as the solution to it. So with no solution in sight, what do you do? Drown your sorrows - and here comes Morris Iemma at the right time. No wonder things are so crook in NSW, the premier’s always out socialising.