THE incumbent New England MP has spent the final day before the election visiting his home town, while his independent rival said residents had a real opportunity to vote for change.
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Barnaby Joyce said "getting around where I grew up", near Woolbrook, was a pre-election tradition.
"It's the last thing I do before election day," Mr Joyce said.
"If your hometown doesn't vote for you, you've got no hope. You've always got to remember where you came from."
Mr Joyce said he was "confident, but not cocky".
"I think all the candidates have developed along the way, and I don't view them as anything other than possible Members for New England," he said.
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Independent Adam Blakester was "excited and pleased" with the support he had received, and said the result could go either way.
"I don't think anyone can read it," he said.
"Voters have a real opportunity here to have a real voice in Canberra.
"It's bigger than just me, it's dozens of us working to nut out the big issues - water, climate change, the economic development and diversification of the region."
Nationwide, the polls put Labor in front. Mr Blakester said voters should give serious consideration to how much would get done if Mr Joyce was voted in to a party sitting in opposition.
"The thing that's often said about independents is that they are never in opposition, they're able to work the whole parliament," he said.
Labor candidate Yvonne Langenberg said she believed the race would be much tighter than most people expected.
"I truly believe it's not a foregone conclusion for the New England," Ms Langenberg said.
"And that's the way it should be. A tight race is better for everyone, it forces politicians to listen.
"Particularly when you've been in a position of power for a long time, such as Barnaby Joyce, it's good to have something to force to take a moment of reflection."