In a fiery Question Time yesterday, the PM declared: “I can beat the Leader of the Opposition without resort to smears.” On a federal level, that may well be true. But even if this happens, the question remains: can John Howard defeat Maxine McKew?
Maxine McKew
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of Maxine McKew. Crikey’s Maxine McKew coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
The Tuesday Top 20
Poor old Dollar Sweetie! As a reward for his bravery last week, he’s knocked Kevin Rudd down a slot to come in at Number Two in the Crikey/Media Monitors Top 20 for the very first time – but he’s still scoring less than half the media mentions of the PM.
Bennelong: I tipped this, says MacKerras
Back on 20 February the following words of mine were printed in Crikey: “Let me be the first pundit to predict that the Liberal Party will lose this year’s general election as a whole, and Bennelong in particular.” Those words were the result of my reading of a Morgan Crikey poll showing Labor ahead in Bennelong by 55-45. That was before it was known Maxine McKew would be Labor’s candidate.
Maxine now the favourite in Bennelong
John Howard is now the underdog not only to remain Prime Minister at the federal election but in his own seat of Bennelong as well. The Crikey Election Indicator for Bennelong now puts the probability of Maxine McKew winning Bennelong at 50.4%.
Election timing: the core issue revealed
The Federal election can’t and won’t be held on 20 October because everyone who lives in Bennelong can tell you, that’s the date of the Granny Smith Festival, writes Bennelong resident Andrew Elder.
A day in the life of a psephologist: MacKerras tells all
As a consequence of the publication this morning of the Newspoll in The Australian newspaper the Melbourne ABC personality John Faine rang me to talk about the marginal seats. However, he did not really do that. He began by asking me about this poll. Why was it so bad for Howard?
The Tuesday Top 20
Two people who you can bet don’t get invited around to Kirribilli House are the big movers in the Crikey/Media Monitors Top 20 for the week of 7-13 August.
Two puzzles in the election betting markets
If the polls are so lop-sided, then why aren’t the betting markets? Monday’s release of the latest AC Nielsen poll highlights an interesting discrepancy between the national polls and the betting markets., writes Simon Jackman.
Bush rains on Howard’s APEC parade
President Bush is leaving APEC early — before the prized silly-suit photo opportunity. So Prime Minister John Howard has started a hamfisted campaign to bring forward the photo session, writes Alex Mitchell.
Morning Market Report
The highlights and lowlights of this morning’s sharemarket activity.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
Tower Books responds to A&R … What a load of self-serving twaddle from A&R … Crikey gets it so wrong on Morgan poll … Crikey’s God & p-rn sealed section … things not that bad in voterland? …
The ACT Labor Grand Senate Plan
If a band of Canberrans have their way, the ACT Senate election could be very interesting indeed. Christian Kerr reports.
Rates up, government vote down: Morgan
The Labor Party would win in a landslide if an election was held now, according to the latest telephone Morgan Poll. Morgan’s is the first major polling since Wednesday’s interest rate rise. Christian Kerr investigates. Meanwhile, here also is Richard Farmer’s Crikey Federal Election Indicator.
Not happy, John (Valder)
If John Valder is seriously disillusioned with the Howard government, why isn’t he trying to fix a bead on the boss fella again? Why is he targeting an MP who was only elected in 2004? asks Christian Kerr.
Bennelong gone. Kooyong now marginal?
The very idea that Kooyong could ever be held by the Labor party would surely have Sir Robert Menzies turning in his grave. But this morning’s Newspoll showing voting intentions by State puts the current incumbent, Liberal Petro Georgiou, well and truly in the marginal category.
Political bite-sized meaty chunks
Don’t give up the day job? … The plod and the Queensland Libs … Your rights at work – but not at the Suncorp Stadium … Gallery dress up … Mad Mullahs …
Compassionate and caring PM with a $1.8 billion winner
If every picture tells a story, then John Howard is trying hard to show us that he is a compassionate, caring Prime Minister. Last night’s TV news bulletins showed John Howard mingling with a group of disabled people – it was a beautiful piece of election campaigning.
Tips and rumours
In relation to the rumour Friday’s “Tips and Rumours”, I am the spouse of an SMH journo and am aware of an unflattering story about Kevin Rudd that is soon to be printed, but have not heard that it is deliberately going to be held over to the announcement of election day. I understand that […]
