Labor is becoming increasingly confident of winning the marginal Liberal-held seat of Boothby in Adelaide's south and has now shifted its attention to Sturt in Adelaide's east, a political expert says.
But University of Adelaide emeritus professor of politics Clem Macintyre said it would be hard for Labor's Sonja Baram to win the Liberal stronghold off sitting MP James Stevens, who holds Sturt by a 6.9 per cent margin.
"Sturt will be a very hard seat for Labor to win," Professor McIntyre said.
"It's a seat that Labor's been looking at and one they've been putting a lot of resources and time into.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese yesterday invited cameras to film him having coffee in Norwood with Ms Baram and former prime minister Julia Gillard in Sturt.
"The fact that Anthony Albanese was in Sturt on Friday I think suggests that Labor has still got some optimism about Sturt," Professor MacIntyre said.
"But it's a significant margin to make up."
Mr Stevens, who took over the seat from Christopher Pyne last election when he retired, saw a 1.5 per cent swing in his favour, but he said this election was set to be a "really tight contest".
"I know it's really going to come down to the wire," he said.
Ms Baram said it was great to have her party's leadership in her electorate yesterday.
But when asked when she realised Sturt was in range, she said she still had not.
"It's clear that there's an interest in Sturt and it's a reflection of the change that people in Sturt are looking for," Ms Baram said.
Boothby heading towards Labor
While visiting Adelaide yesterday, Mr Albanese also spoke at Cabra Dominican College, in the state's most marginal seat of Boothby, in Adelaide's south, which is held by outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint by a 1.4 per cent margin.
Mr Macintyre said it appeared Labor thought it would win the seat for the first time in more than 70 years.
"I think Labor is increasingly confident that they will win Boothby and so, in a sense, the Liberals have shifted their defences from Boothby, to a degree, to Sturt, and Labor has shifted its attention to Sturt with some optimism," he said.
Boothby Labor candidate Louise Miller-Frost said there was a mood for change among voters in her electorate.
"I think people know that if we don't change the government, we won't get action on climate change, we won't get action on the aged care royal commission and we won't get a federal ICAC," she said.
"People are very keen. They understand that if you want change you have to vote Labor."
Despite her competition receiving a visit from the party leader the day before polling day, Liberal candidate Rachel Swift said she was not concerned.
"I don't think about the Opposition Leader," she said.
"All I'm focused on is the people of Boothby and listening to their priorities."
Dr Swift said she had the right experience to address her constituents' concerns, which included the cost of living, the economy, health care and job security.
"People really want someone who's got an international set of skills and experience to look after them in Boothby," she said.
Independent a chance in Grey
The seat of Grey, which covers a 92 per cent of South Australia, has also been a talking point this election, after independent Liz Habermann, who also ran in the March state election, put her name forward.
Running for the state seat of Flinders, Ms Habermann recorded a significant swing towards her, but not quite enough to win.
Given Grey covers the same area (plus much more), Mr Macintyre said the seat would garner more attention than usual.
"We'll be watching Grey at this election probably with a lot more interest than would normally be the case, simply because of the rise of the independents and the fact that Liz Habermann did as well as she did at the March state election," Professor Macintyre said.
Liberal Rowan Ramsey has held the seat since 2007, recording a 13.3 per cent margin at the last polls.
