La Trobe MP Jason Wood with Maureen Daniels during the election on Saturday.
LA TROBE MP Jason Wood has taken a slender lead in the stretched out battle for the seat, which takes in parts of Berwick, Beaconsfield and Narre Warren North.
Election experts predicted La Trobe would come down to the wire and they were spot on.
While the final result will not be known for a few more days, Mr Wood was leading ALP candidate Rodney Cocks by about 700 votes on a two candidate-preferred basis when the News went to press.
The Liberal MP entered the election holding the seat by 5.9 per cent. Mr Cocks has since managed to attract a swing of just over five per cent back to the ALP.
Mr Wood said he was grateful for the local support he had received during the election.
“When you look at the overall situation I could have been taken out in the tidal wave against the Liberal Party, but I am in with a strong chance because of my supporters and staff,” he said.
“I believe I had difficulty because of the interest rate increase just before election day.”
Mr Cocks said it was now a waiting game.
“All we can do is wait, there’s not much to say,” he said.
Greens candidate Bree Taylor received more than eight per cent of the total vote. Family First candidate Jim Zubic gained just under three per cent.
Vote counting is expected to continue for several more days.
