We know more about how Costello would run things as PM than we do about how Rudd would, and he's odds on to win, or so say the polls. So why the concern with Costello? I'm more concerned with Rudd. What has he ever run that gives us sufficient confidence to vote him in as PM?

Hello Ditch,

Well, let me tell you a thing or two,
About a man who you think's 'brand new' ...
Kevin Rudd's a really great bloke,
Australia's future to him's no joke!

Kevin Rudd has been the Federal Member for Griffith since being first elected in 1998. In 2001 he was appointed to Federal Labor's Shadow
Cabinet. And, on December 4, the Federal Labor Caucus met for a leadership ballot. Kevin Rudd defeated Kim Beazley to become Federal Labor Leader and the Leader of the Opposition.

Before entering Federal Parliament, Kevin joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1981, working in the Australian Embassies in both Stockholm and Beijing.

Upon returning to Australia he worked for the Department in a number of positions including the Policy Planning Bureau and was promoted to Assistant Secretary.

In 1988 Kevin took leave from the Department of Foreign Affairs to take up a position as Chief of Staff to the then Queensland State Opposition Leader, Wayne Goss. Kevin remained Mr Goss' Chief of Staff after Mr Goss was elected Premier in 1989.

In 1992 Kevin was appointed Director General of the Cabinet Office and he remained with the Queensland State Government until 1995. After a period of working as a China Consultant with KPMG, Kevin was elected to the Federal Parliament as the Member for Griffith in the House of Representatives in 1998, and was re-elected in 2001 and 2004 with an increased vote on both occasions.

Did I mention that Kevin in fluent in Mandarin? (helps for a PM to be fluent in an Asian language - considering the region we live in, don't you think?).

Now, Peter Costello - has only had his experience as a Treasurer - and nothing more to speak of. And Mr Howard - had no experience to speak of, prior to his becoming treasurer (a job he stuffed up badly). So you think about who you really want as PM... But don't take too long, the election's in a few weeks time.

"Women like schmaltz? - Boy, that's so yesterday... "

Yet it still works today.

I will respect you in the morning.
You really look wonderful in that dress.
No dear, you are not fat at all and look wonderful.

Schamlz wins elections, still today.
Its also handy for getting a bit of hot sex :)

You girls just can't help yourselves.

Costello gives you economic reality. You girls
prefer schmalz.

Minchin, not a favorite of my side but a real chance if given the leadership.
Even if Costello takes over he will fail, badly too, he can not win the middle over.
Believe it or not Australia MUST have strong oppositions and alternative governments.
Right now my party in NSW looks to be just what it is, lost.
But in truth even if we dump at least 2 ministers, please do Mr premier one day after this election.
We are not yet seeing a true opposition , we are however seeing a leader who can win leading the opposition.
Rudd? come now the scare tactic is regressive, working strongly against Howard.
No easy task for conservatives to hurt Rudd, he is the man to restore Labors brand name, strong steady and unafraid to take on his own side to govern well, and he will.

Yabby,

Most women today prefer a man who's not a 'con' artist or 'smooth talker.' Smaltz may work in the short term - but eventually it gets boring. You need more than 'smaltz' to be able to score these days.
Swimming in the 'shallow' end is fun - for a child. Most adults find the deep-end of the pool a little more challenging.

The same goes for our choice of leaders. A man with only one string to his bow - is not much of a choice. We want a complete package.

Foxy, schmalz still works everywhere, some just do it better then
others. Look at where it got Bill Clinton! The world is full
of the emotionally engulfed and many unmarried mothers.

When it comes to economics, which can be dry, people don't want
to hear the truth, or they shoot the messenger. Personally
I prefer reality and dealing with it, most voters don't.
So intelligence to me is no 1. Costello and Rudd are both
intelligent, Rudd is just way better at pushing emotional buttons
with his wording.

People want passion, they want dreams, they want modesty, they
want their emotional buttons pushed, thats the reality.

Political parties are not silly. They spend alot of time and money
finding out what people want to hear, then if at all possible,
thats what they sell them. There are plenty of true believers
out there and a few more of them, can win you the elections.

As to Costello, I rate him far smarter then Howard. Its just
that Howard knows how to bush emotional buttons, thats won
him many elections. Costello is less skilled at that and
like Keating, a man of reason. But voters prefer schmalz,
thats why Rudd will win. He's far better at pushing emotional
buttons then either Howard or Costello.