WA election: Labor swoop on Liberal safe seat as ‘tough fight’ talk persists despite landslide predictions

On the eve of early voting kicking off in the WA election, both major political parties are downplaying the significance of campaigning in a seat that was once the bluest of territory.

Mark McGowan and his opponent, Zak Kirkup, have both repeatedly waved off questions about an impending Liberal party wipe-out on March 13, following an incredibly lopsided poll published last week.

But the locations both leaders chose to campaign in on Tuesday indicated they had reason to believe the safe Liberal seat of Bateman could fall to Labor for…