Port's win a good sign for Labor
LABOR national president Mark Butler was last night expected to hold on to the safe seat of Port Adelaide, fending off a challenge from the Nick Xenophon Team. 
Mr Butler, who holds South Australia's safest Labor seat with a margin of 14.1 per cent, was one of the 3000 people who voted at Woodville High yesterday.
The 45-year-old was quietly confident of holding on to his seat, which he first won in 2007, despite fears he could be toppled by NXT candidate Michael Slattery.
A poll in The Advertiser earlier this week indicated Mr Butler would comfortably retain his seat.
Mr Butler said his electorate was mostly concerned about jobs, especially for their children.
"It has been good to hear what the issues are - people wondering what their children are going to do post-school for work," he said.
"There are a lot of car supply companies right through the western suburbs and the north, and with the closure of Holden, people want to talk about what is next," he said.
However, Mr Butler also said Port Adelaide residents were also concerned about facilities within the electorate.
Mr Butler last month pledged that Labor would spend $4 million to help Charles Sturt Council build a $16 million-plus indoor recreation centre at St Clair if it won the election.
The centre would include a gym, five indoor courts and rooms for students to study.
"People want to know about their sports facilities and what funding they would get but it really was a national discussion about jobs and Medicare," he said.
Labor has also pledged $500 million to expand Adelaide's tram network to the suburbs, including Port Adelaide.
The need for improved transport infrastructure became an important issue within the electorate, with calls to make Port Adelaide one of the early recipients of the proposed new spending.
Community leaders, including the   Mayor Gary Johanson and local traders, have called for trams in Port Adelaide.
Xenophon Team candidate Michael Slattery has also backed the tram extension to Port Adelaide, saying he would fight for it if elected.
Mr Butler spent last night at the Alberton Hotel having a drink with supporters while watching the vote.
He was quietly hopeful there was also an omen in the Power's win over Richmond at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
"The blokes played a fantastic game of tough footy but I'm not sure if I draw any parallels, being as unathletic as I am," Mr Butler said.
Mr Butler also made a plea that the next election campaign not be as long and drawn out as this one has been.
"It's been a very long campaign and I hope it's another 50 years before we have another eight-week campaign in the middle of winter," he said.
PORT ADELAIDE BUTLER (ALP) FLOWERDEW (LIB) SLATTERY (NXT)MARGIN 14.1%