Anger over plan to ignore Mayo

OPPOSITION Leader Brendan Nelson has lashed out at the Labor Party for considering not running a candidate at the Mayo by-election. The ALP is yet to decide formally whether to run a candidate, citing cost, but party figures are also worried about the potential to lose votes after last month's poor result in the Gippsland by-election. Dr Nelson said recent comments by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd suggested Labor was not being straight with voters. "I thought he was a bit disingenuous when he said that it would cost them several hundred thousands of dollars to run a candidate in Mayo," he told reporters. "It's entirely a matter for the Labor Party . . . but I will be surprised if the Labor Party doesn't run a candidate. "As all of you know, the Labor Party has very deep pockets, very deep financial resources and I think Mr Rudd's... [read full story]