Shorten team gains new confidence on grassroots backing "There is no doubt that Bill's campaign started from behind but it has been heartening to see the response": Shorten team spokewoman. Photo: Mal Fairclough Bill Shorten is hoping to ride a wave of late momentum in Labor's month-long leadership election, which has been extended by two days due to the late receipt of ballot papers in some outlying areas. NSW MP Anthony Albanese had been considered favourite to win the bulk of rank-and-file support in the first-ever open ballot of party members, but information obtained from the "Bill for Labor" campaign suggests the Victorian is receiving significant grassroots backing. The figures from the Shorten camp show an extensive telephone campaign utilising a claimed 500 volunteers nationally - 189 in Victoria and 70 in NSW - has reached more than 10,000 members across the two biggest states alone. In Victoria, this has seen 6716 calls made, with 1281 people declaring support for Mr Shorten compared with 459 for Mr Albanese. In NSW, 4700 calls have been placed with 573 members promising support for Mr Shorten compared with 342 for Mr Albanese. South Australia is also said to be strong for Mr Shorten but Mr Albanese is ahead on the figures in Queensland, ACT and Tasmania. A spokeswoman for the Shorten campaign said: "There is no doubt that Bill's campaign started from behind but it has been heartening to see the response from party members. These figures are by no means conclusive but have given the campaign some heart and given us the sense that members are weighing the candidates up carefully. Both sides were allowed two mail-outs and were allocated funds by the ALP secretariat to run the campaigns. However, the Shorten campaign appears to have benefited from significant union donations allowing it to outspend Mr Albanese. The latter's brochure was a single page document compared with a glossy mini-booklet from the Shorten camp that his campaign said reflected the strong "ideas" theme of his campaign. ALP members will have an extra two days to submit their votes after delays in the circulation of ballot papers. Interim leader Chris Bowen said on Thursday that the closing date had shifted to 5pm next Friday "to ensure every vote counts." The date when the new party leader will be announced remains unchanged at Sunday, October 13. Labor's national executive met on Thursday afternoon to consider the situation after the extension was raised with the candidates. National secretary George Wright said the decision was made because of the delay in some WA members receiving their ballot papers and "to ensure that all members have as much time as practical to participate in the leadership ballot ... Some members in other states are also waiting on their ballot papers." About 43,000 Labor members were supposed to receive their ballot papers from September 25. The membership vote opened on September 24 and was initially due to close next Wednesday at 5pm. The Labor caucus is due to meet on Thursday for its vote - via secret ballot - before the votes are counted and the combined result is announced next Friday. Mr Shorten is expected to have a majority of the Caucus votes already locked in after the Right faction agreed to back him.