Voters cast ballots in Lyne by-election
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Voters in the federal seat of Lyne on the New South Wales mid-north coast are casting their votes in a federal by-election.
The Nationals are fighting hard to retain the seat of Lyne, which was vacated by former deputy prime minister Mark Vaile.
But pundits say the seat will probably fall to former state MP and independent candidate Rob Oakeshott, whose state seat covers a large part of Lyne.
Mr Oakeshott has been campaigning hard on his record, while Nationals candidate Rob Drew says the independent would be "invisible" in Federal Parliament.
But Mr Oakeshott says his record would make him a more effective advocate for his constituents.
"I will wholeheartedly argue the case for whatever is in the best interests of the local area, not what's in the interests of a political party, not what's in the interest of any particular vested interest," he said.
But Mr Drew says voters should vote for him and strengthen the Coalition if they are unhappy with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
"This is all about being able to send a very strong message to the Rudd Government that we in regional New South Wales are not happy with him not delivering on his promises in the lead up to the last election," he said.
"Grocery prices haven't come down, petrol prices haven't come down, he's done nothing for our pensioners."
