The electoral system contributed to Playford achieving a then-world record for a democratically elected leader; he spent 27 years as Premier of South Australia. During this period, as a result of population changes, the rural overweighting allowed Playford to hold onto power even when the LCL lost by decisive margins in actual votes. In 1944 and 1953, for instance, Labor won 53 percent of the two-party vote to the LCL's 47 percent. In most other parts of Australia with fairer electoral systems, this would have been enough to give the Labor leader--Robert Richards in 1944 and Mick O'Halloran in 1953—a solid majority government. However, due to the Playmander, the LCL was still able to eke out a paper-thin majority in both elections. Rural areas, excepting industrial towns such as Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie, were likely to support the LCL. The Adelaide area was overwhelmingly Labor; even at the height of Playford's popularity, the LCL only had a realistic chance of winning seats in the wealthy "eastern crescent" and around Holdfast Bay.