SOUTH Australia's most senior federal Liberal MP Christopher Pyne had declared this election victory the toughest of his career as the X factor split votes in three directions. 
Mr Pyne last night saw off a challenge from both Labor and the Nick Xenophon Team in his notionally safe eastern suburbs seat of Sturt, despite suffering a negative swing.
Mr Pyne, who started the day confident the Coalition's promises of subs and help for the Whyalla steelworks would result in him being returned, last night said the final result had been a "great relief".
"It's been a very hard-fought campaign," Mr Pyne said. "It's been the toughest campaign because of the unpredictability of the NXT factor. We didn't know where they would come and where their preferences would go.
"We didn't really know, right up until the night, how it might turn out." Mr Pyne was ahead of Labor 56-44 at 10pm last night on a two-party basis. NXT finished last night's counting third on primary votes.
Earlier in the day, Labor's Matthew Loader said he sensed there was a swing on against the Coalition.
Voting in Sturt yesterday morning started with a bizarre mix-up, as staff at the Hillcrest Community Centre handed out the wrong ballot papers and were forced to apologise.
Booth staff were quick to catch the error after six people were given ballot papers for the neighbouring Labor-held seat of Adelaide. They recalled the bad ballots and got voters to do them again.
Australian Electoral Commission state manager Paul Hawes said he had not received complaints.
"It was an 8am teething issue and we were quick to offer apologies to the individuals affected," Mr Hawes said.
"I am proud of how quickly our staff were able to respond to the situation." Mr Pyne has held Sturt since 1993. During the campaign, Mr Pyne promised millions of dollars for sporting club redevelopments including upgrades at Campbelltown Memorial Oval and Norwood Football Club.
Mr Pyne came within less than 1000 votes of dropping the seat to Labor's Mia Handshin in 2007, as Liberal support ebbed away during the rise of former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
Mr Pyne last night said the Liberal result in SA was reasonable and said he expected the return of a majority Coalition government, despite fears of more chaos brought on in an election where neither party scored a clear victory.
He said it was a "sad and difficult" night for colleague and former minister Jamie Briggs, who lost the Adelaide Hills seat of   Mayo to the NXT's Rebekha Sharkie.
STURT PYNE (LIB) LOADER (ALP) WRIGHT (NXT)LIBERAL HOLD