ADAM Marshall won it easy in the end.
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The MP received more than 65 per cent of the primary vote to retain the seat of Northern Tablelands in Saturday's state election.
The battle for Northern Tablelands began very early for all the candidates this morning. Independent David Mailler, from Uralla, came through town on his way to Warialda and then Bingara at 6am.
He spent the day between both towns, which he described as traditional National heartland and Greens candidate Mercurius Goldstein went outside the main centres to cast his vote in Croppa Creek.
Mr Marshall travelled across to Moree on Saturday morning to set up before the poll opened, and Labor’s Debra O’Brien did the same, however, Ms O’Brien chose to stay in Moree for the day, while Mr Marshall did the rounds to the east.
Mr Mailler said he said he knew Bingara and Warialda would be difficult booths for him, and that was why he was there.
“It’s been very positive. I’ve had reports that we’ve run out of how to vote cards in Uralla, where I live, and I’m getting reports that it seems to be going well for us at other booths,” he said on Saturday.
“I think we’ve given the tree a good shake.”
Mr Goldstein said Croppa Creek was a thriving community with many young families.
“Townships like Croppa Creek are just as important as every other Northern Tablelands community large or small. That is why I chose it as the place to cast my vote,” Mr Goldstein said.
Mr Marshall arrived at the booth at Inverell’s Ross Hill School at about 11.30am, and described the feeling at Moree as being very positive.
“A lot of people are attending all three polling booths in Moree this morning, and all the booths coming right back towards Inverell. So people clearly have plans for the afternoon,” Mr Marshall said.
“It’s a good feeling on all the booths, everyone going about their business and no negativity on the booths, which is what it is all about.”
Labor's Debra O'Brien said she has had a great reaction from Moree voters.
"I'm very pleased with what I've seen in Moree," Debra said
"Today they've been saying they're concerned about electricity, TAFE and CSG, and I think we're getting a lot of positive feedback from the people of Moree."
As people flocked to the town hall to cast their vote the Gum Flat P&C took advantage of the crowd and set up their cake stall and Easter raffle outside.
P&C president Penny Hackney said as a small school with only 30 students they had to make the most of every opportunity.
"We're world famous slice makers," she joked.
"Everything's home made by Gum Flat mums and dads, and the dads are doing a great job too, by the way."
In fact, while standing inside waiting to vote, a woman did actually comment on how there used to be a cake table with a cup of tea available. It was good to tell her at least we had the cake table outside.