What are we thinking??? How can political candidates capitalise on the mood of the electorate?

Kos Samaras is a Director of Redbridge Consulting, a firm specialising in social, political and communications research and strategies. As well as being currently engaged by a variety of political groups such as the ‘Voices’ movement and Simon Holmes à Court’s ‘Climate 200’, he is also a sought after media commentator on the mood of voters around the country at present. His views are based on solid voter research and also informed by a career which has equipped  him with a deep knowledge of how governments and political parties function and what drives them.

From 2005 to 2019, Kos was Labor’s Victorian Deputy Campaign Director, running four Victorian state elections, four Federal elections and countless by-elections. He was one of the most successful campaign strategists in the Australian Labor Party’s history.

We are lucky to have someone with his finger on the pulse to speak with us about how the electorate is feeling right now.

Kos will address issues such as how fluid or fixed the current mood is; what issues are front of mind for voters; can independents break through the two party system; how the ‘mood’ is influenced by factors such as age, geography, previous voting intentions and gender; what it means for parties such as the UAP, etc. Importantly, what challenges and opportunities does the mood present for candidates?

He will be happy to talk about his findings in some particular electorates such as Kooyong.

While the discussion will focus on Federal issues, Kos will also be happy to translate some of the implications of the mood for the Victorian election later this year.