Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Late surge in support for Coalition

Updated at 3:19 pm on 20 August 2010

The latest opinion poll in Australia shows there's been a late surge in support for the Coalition.

It puts both main parties on an equal footing as they enter the final day of election campaigning.

The Newspoll in The Australian newspaper shows Labour and the Coalition both on 50% after preferences.

In another boost for the Coalition, the three major News Ltd daily newspapers - The Courier Mail, The Daily Telegraph and The Herald Sun have all thrown their support behind Coalition leader Tony Abbott.

Labor says Saturday's election will be the closest in living memory.

The ABC reports both leaders spent Thursday night canvassing the public in a last-ditch effort to convince undecided voters.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is urging people to vote Labor rather than support the Greens.

Coalition leader Tony Abbott visited the Flemington market before dawn on Friday as part of a 36-hour marathon finish to the campaign.

He also went to his own electorate, Manly, and the marginal seat of Bennelong.

Mr Abbott says he had a couple of cat-naps between radio interviews.

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