Election close brings out worst in Titulia

ELECTION RESULT: No mandate

With 9 hours of balloting left, RNC-LN candidate Julian has a 4 vote lead over INC-LRP candidate T. J. Norton. As Norton gained the most momentum during the campaign away from the governing coalition nominee, Titulia has voted for a virtual tie.

The feeling in the republic trends to a Julian win but with a huge loss to past coalition popularity. The April election handed Linardist Party president William D. Money with 60% of the vote - which was down from 80 and 70% for former presidents Gregory Hock and Gerry Brady respectively. Unlike his predecessors on the LN-SDP ticket, the outgoing government president decided not to seek a second term. This left the power base without a weighty candidate.

Based on the latest figures, Norton is trailing Julian by a winnable margin although not many more votes are expected to be cast in these final hours-if any at all. This has been a closely fought election and both campaigns entering the field with strong momentum. Julian for a sixth coalition term in power and Norton offering a viable alternative.

Recap of Day Two

Former Vice President Norton held on to a lead over former Secretary Julian throughout the second day that previously fluctuated between the candidates during day one. There was some noticeable panic in the coalition campaign that Julian was not showing any signs of improvement.

Norton opened up his lead as far as the current margin during peak moments, proving that the race was winnable for the underdog LRP contesting only its second election against the powerful Linardist-SDP base.

As panic set in, so did the smear campaign against Norton and the LRP. Desperate to hold onto Liberty House, a Julian loss was no an option for the coalition that bet everything on the RNC president in a do-or-die showdown.

Accompanied by friend Will Wilberforce, sitting vice president and Julian running mate Reformer took to Norton with the force of a cyclone. The only bullet in their chamber was the McVicker-Norton government's immigration tactic against the Linardist Party that earned both executive members a trip to the courthouse.

There was little substance from Reformer and Wilberforce, packing only a last-ditch smear to Norton hoping to swing undecided voters long enough and put it in the bank. There wasn't any sign of the strategy paying off as mostly all remaining Titulians had gone to the polls.

June election changes election map

April's LRP nominee and president Leah Carmody collected 40% of the vote against her Linardist counterpart. With Norton on the top of the ballot this time, they boosted the party's electoral gain by over 7% compared with last election. With that increase it places the LRP in sights of a strong showing in next term's election, but their success might be shown sooner than what they think.

It emerged that the LRP ticket's agenda heavily pulled in voters that Julian was relying on for his widely anticipated landslide. LRP campaign staff Renee Buchanan, Malinda Noble and Reg Ambrose scrutinised the ballot returns and it was soon discovered that there was no accounting for the independent vote alone flowing to them that knocked down their opponent.

"At a glance it looks like we picked up well over 5 votes from RNC, SDP and Linardist voters and the unaffiliated citizens attracted by what we had to offer Titulia. All up a 14 vote gain that wasn't expected. A very good swing", Ms Noble said.

Day Three seals the deal

Former vice president Norton went into day three grateful to those members in the government caucus and all citizens that listened to the LRP's alternative for a better Titulia.

"I want to thank so many. SDP presidential contender Matt Ingebritson is a great mate and his endorsement means the world. It looks like the economic vote flowed onto us from members of the old Libertarian Party as well of course as the independents that kept an open mind during the campaign".

"For someone that was called a non-factor and everything under the sun I think the result has proven that I am back and the people have overwhelmingly embraced that. There were people I know who voted for my opponent that I share mutual respect with and I appreciate loyalty. I'm grateful to them for keeping it clean during the campaign".

"Obviously during campaigns there are times when it heats up and being that was all they had to play I expected that to happen.. I'm glad I could help out the LRP and improve their chances next time around".

"My message to them - don't give up and keep on trying and pushing the boundaries. Our most successful politicians did the same and it paid off. This was an honourable campaign from our side and it demonstrated that our team wasn't interested in launching rockets, just defending our right to be heard and respond when attacked".

When asked what he thought of his chances, Norton remained coy.

"Right or wrong - I was condemned, berated, smeared, threatened and blamed for all that was wrong with Titulia. This from a coalition that has been in power for five terms and it looks like gaining another".

"With everything going against my chances in this election, I went to the polls with the back of one party - not three, with less support, not a single blog release during the campaign - and ended up a footstep away from being elected President of the Republic. Who could complain under those kind of circumstances? I can live with this election .. it was great to get back into Titulian politics and it's been the best nine days of my citizenship since I can't remember when".

Norton expressed his thanks to members of the coalition for the chance to debate the important issues.

"We all agree that Titulia hasn't got long to go and there is no doubt that a new policy on working with Admin needs to be adopted immediately, with the failed one tossed in the trash. By the end of the genuine debating that ended just two hours ago, I am absolutely convinced I managed to get all sides on board with the same resolve", he said.

"I'm unimpressed that the more influential members of the coalition didn't properly prepare Julian for the seriousness of what's to come. There is a lot of talent in that camp and I think a lot of folks underestimate what they're capable of achieving. On this central theme that was not about politics, or personalities but survival itself - I have to honestly say they fumbled it terribly".

Julian was asked by several citizens how he could translate his slogan "putting ADMIN in his place" into a workable new agreement as it contained the same negative undertones. Citizens in both campaigns agreed that the old way needed to go, while Julian insisted that he would succeed in setting the terms in any negotiation.

A hung parliament?

Titulia's system of government doesn't rely on a legislative function unlike the Westminster system, although the ruling government cannot executive treasury supply in its right. Any new legislation must pass through the citizen legislature including operating budgets, funding disbursements to public programs and all amendments to the constitution.

With the high surge away from the coalition, the LRP is at an advantage to use its election gain to legislate from the citizen congress should it choose to capitalise on it. Voter support for Julian doesn't translate into fixed policy agreement and the fractured coalition is fully aware the LRP know it.

If Julian wanted to set up a truly centrist government, his strongest weapon is to appoint his election opponents to the key government positions he couldn't gain policy traction on. The question is: will he?

LRP secretary Malinda Noble said the party wasn't 'out for a hunt' but expected a shake up from the RNC leader.

"On the chance that Julian wins it won't be by the landslide he hoped for just a few days ago", she said.

"The outcome has already determined that each needs to take the other seriously. We've done our bit and Julian needs to do his".

The LRP won strong gains on the economy, immigration and site reform. Political rage from the RNC over the LRP split has overwhelmed their candidate.

Carrying the enormous swing to the newcomers from the once-irrepressible coalition, this may end up being the bitter pill Julian has to swallow to build the unity government he needs to keep the website populated. At least 4 key non-LRP citizens have told members of the party of their intention to emigrate if the site isn't effectively overhauled.

"I had my lot with it. Nothing changes and this campaign is just another sh*tfest. TJ [Norton] has the right ideas but he'll get blocked out of spite", one citizen was quoted as saying.

In his final words to the voters, IND-LRP candidate Tom Norton laid it on the line.

"The future of the Republic is at stake at this critical time. That friends, is as real as gets", he said.

The verdict

Anything can happen. Voting concludes just after 6:30 am Australian East Coast time* tomorrow morning (11th) or 2:30 pm US&Canada Mountain time (10th)*

* The times stated in this article were converted based on information provided by titulia.com
Due to several complaints the time zone facility on the website is incorrect, readers are advised to rely on their own enquiries -Ed.