The Forum > Article Comments > Team Rudd > Comments
Team Rudd : Comments
By Mark Bahnisch, published 7/12/2006Kevin Rudd is a canvas on which the Liberals can apply thick daubs of negative paint.
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Essentially, he managed to blame Howard for the States failings - by jumping on the federalism bandwagon and promising to more clearly delineate states responsibilities, he managed to co-opt support from the premiers - largely because they'd rather deal with Rudd than howard.
At the same time, he said that in Howard's 11 years in power, he had done nothing concrete for federalism, because he enjoyed 'blaming it on the states.'
This was a nice, subtle piece of work. Howard was effectively hamstrung, something I was beginning to think wasn't possible.
If he criticised the states, he proved Rudd right. If he advocated a strong federalist approach, he would risk the wrath of the premiers at a sensitive time, a risk which wasn't likely for Rudd.
In any case, this speech hinted at a subtlety not common to Labor leaders.