AS ROB OAKESHOTT was doing a phone interview with a Melbourne radio station yesterday morning an elderly man ambled into his Port Macquarie electorate office and handed the receptionist a T-shirt emblazoned with Mr Oakeshott's name.
''I won't have any more use for this,'' he told the receptionist, turning and walking straight back out.
In a cafe a few blocks away a newspaper sat with a picture of Mr Oakeshott on the front page. Someone had drawn an arrow sticking into his eye and blood gushing out.
The independent MP might be back home after 17 days of negotiations, but he clearly still has some talking to do. Many in his conservative electorate are angry over his decision to allow Labor to form government.
Fronting a media pack, Mr Oakeshott again insisted he had not supported Labor, rather that he had guaranteed supply to a government but would be happy to negotiate legislation with either side of politics.
It is a distinction lost on most of the locals who spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald. Not lost is the bag of goodies Mr Oakeshott managed to bring home with him.
Most impressive to locals is the $75 million he secured for the long overdue extension to the regional hospital.
David Gillespie, the doctor who stood against Mr Oakeshott for the Nationals, said on Monday there were three key issues on the mid-north coast. ''First is the Port Macquarie Base Hospital, second is the Port Macquarie Base Hospital and third is the Port Macquarie Base Hospital.''
Mr Oakeshott is also keen to be recognised for extracting funding to expand the Pacific Highway and improve tertiary education in the region.
He also believes the extent of any backlash might have been overstated by the media.
He concedes that just 13 per cent of his constituents voted Labor, but notes that according to one poll of those who voted for him, 40 per cent directed their preferences to the Coalition and 36 to Labor.
''You've got to understand that you are standing in a town that does not have political party representation at a local level, at a state level or at a federal level.''
Port Macquarie, he believes, has shrugged off party politics.
Mr Oakeshott said he had not had time to discuss with his wife, Sara-Jane (who is about to have the couple's fourth child), whether he could balance the cabinet position offered by the Prime Minister with family life.
When questioned over his rambling 17-minute address to the nation on Tuesday, he hinted he may well accept the regional affairs portfolio.
''In question time, I promise you, I would stick to the rules of 45 seconds for questions and four minutes for answers.''
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