A NUMBER of major newspapers have backed the Coalition ahead of the state election with pundits expecting a close result.
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The Age, The Australian, Herald Sun, Australian Financial Review and the Sunday Herald Sun have backed the re-election of Premier Denis Napthine while The Sunday Age supports Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews.
The election eve endorsements are a surprising turn-around from the last state election in November 2010 when every major newspaper backed to return of former premier John Brumby.
In this morning's editorial, The Age stated that "government is a chalice that must be won, not acquired by default."
"Victorians deserve strong, visionary leadership. On the basis of the policies presented in this campaign, The Age believes Denis Napthine deserves to be re-elected to serve a term in his own right."
The Australian was less enthusiastic about supporting the Coalition but wrote the Napthine government deserved a second chance.
"Given the miserable experience of Labor’s Cain-Kirner era, voters should think carefully," The Australian's editorial stated.
"While Mr Andrews outplayed Mr Baillieu and has out-campaigned Dr Napthine, he and his team have not shown they are ready to govern."
The Australian Financial Review claimed Labor was not fit to return to office after only one term.
The Sunday Age stated an Andrews government was preferrable to the inaction displayed during the Baillieu-Napthine years.