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The Forum > Article Comments > Team Rudd > Comments

Team Rudd : Comments

By Mark Bahnisch, published 7/12/2006

Kevin Rudd is a canvas on which the Liberals can apply thick daubs of negative paint.

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Good article Mark, but I don't think you have considered those factors in Kevin Rudd's favour.

Howard is tired, even if he doesn't show it. He has nothing to prove, so he's not going to push for reforms that he might have done in the first, second or third term. The Liberal agenda died after Workchoices, VSU and Telstra. Old ideologies are finally legislated.

The change of government cycle is there. Most governments don't last much more than 10-13 years, and without a timely handover to PC, there's a pretty broad target for the ALP. Steady hands isn't going to win it for John Howard if they can show his weaknesses.

Kev's drawn out the battle lines. IR is a vote-winner, though not by itself (which is where Kimbo went wrong). And Rudd's got the lines that Beazley didn't have. IR only works if you can put a solid case that it undermines 'family values.' This is the new catalyst.

Climate Change: Howard is the last climate change skeptic politician with any political capital. Bush is dead, so his views on Climate change don't matter anymore.

Iraq is a worry for Howard. With a change in course happening at the behest of the constituents in the US, it may start to register here. Then again, maybe not. We haven't lost any troops.

The talk of Federalism is both a challenge and a strength for Howard. Reforming Federalism would be a good way to eliminate the poor state administration of hospitals, but see para one. Howard is tired. Rudd has much to prove. He will either succeed because of his agenda and vision, or Howard will be able to run a scare campaign based on his lack of experience.

But with Rudd's ability to work the media as good if not better than Howard's, I think he's in with a real chance. He's also not going to fall at every hurdle like Latham. Latham had to punch hard and early because Howard was always going to lure and wedge later on. Rudd will be setting traps, not falling into them.
Posted by Nahum, Tuesday, 12 December 2006 6:37:27 AM
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