ðə kˈɛnɪt ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ˈɛntɚd ðə kæmpˈeɪn wɪð ɐ səbstˈænʃəl lˈiːd ɪnðə pˈoʊlz ænd wʌz wˈaɪdli ɛkspˈɛktᵻd tə wˈɪn, sˌʌm kˈɑːməntˌeɪɾɚz ˈiːvən tˈɪpt ðə ɡˈʌvɚnmənt tʊ ɪŋkɹˈiːs ðɛɹ ɔːlɹˌɛdi lˈɑːɹdʒ mədʒˈɔːɹᵻɾi.
The Kennett government entered the campaign with a substantial lead in the polls and was widely expected to win, some commentators even tipped the government to increase their already large majority.