Mckew needs a 4% swing,
the liberals call it "further evidence that the Labor Party is getting cocky."
maybe,
maybe there could be something said about pots, kettles, name calling and the colour black.

GO MAXINE GO!

I must have been laughing so hard that I made an error (just couldn't get the image of Howards reply to this challenge out of my head).

Correction-
I should have said,
Howard needs a swing of 4% against him to loose the seat.

I think this is going to be a lot more interesting than the whole Wilkie Greens attempt.
McKew presents very well (duh!).

When Maxine joins Family First I'll be yelling "Maxine for PM" :)

She is a great lady.. heartwarming and generous. I just don't see 'Labor'as the right horse to ride to the finish.

So, if I was in Bennelong and voted against her, it would not be against "her" but against Labors connection with the Unions.
I'd probably also vote against John, because of his economic rationalism and pandering to China. (promotion of agri/mining interests at the expense of high tech industrial interests...electronic being one)

I wonder if Rob is still concerned with the ABS 'right wing bias'. Maxine certainly adds to a long list of 'right wingers' who have diverted into the Labour party. Poor old Pru must be feeling very lonely. It a wonder Phillip Adams and Kerry O'Brien have not yet had a run with the Labour party.

I too like Maxine, think she's got a lot guts doing what she's doing and by golly if she tips Howard out of a seat he has held for 30 years it will become political folk lore overnight.

But hang on, why is Labor doing the 'celebrity thang' ?

Yes unknowns are hard to bank on and celebs come with their own PR chutzpah but will it be enough to convince the electorate to vote Labor?

Maxine come with real political street credo no doubt but will those who inhabit Bennelong pencil in a cross against an incumbent PM?

• Yes / NO / Maybe

It'll be interesting to watch the votes role in on election night TV coverage as it’s perhaps the best example of media political celeb Vs political warhorse ever.

Peter Garret had some well known political qualities; Maxine is something very different again.

Watching Keza O’Brien interviewing his old 7.30 Report colleague on the Veracity and intentions of Federal Labor policy will be riveting.

I agree Rainier. Although unlikely, the prospect of Maxine McKew beating the incumbent King Rat and sending him into overdue rodent retirement, is a lovely thing to fantasise about on a fine Wednesday morning, with a touch of autumn in the air... :)

I don't even mind very much that she's standing for the ALP.