http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-11/mcgowan-says-no-coalition-with-greens/4123636?section=wa

"The WA Opposition Leader Mark McGowan says he will not invite the Prime Minister Julia Gillard to help him campaign in next year's state election.

With the Federal Government languishing in the polls, many WA Labor MPs have privately expressed that Ms Gillard's involvement in an election campaign will be damaging to state Labor."

It is sad when a sitting PM becomes such a liability to her own party.

They dumped one dudd Rudd and took on dudd liar Gillard. One was, and one is, poison according to the pollsters. Who except David Bradbury would want Gillard barracking for them openly, not one who wants to protect their political future.

"DON'T GIVE THE PENSIONERS ANYTHING, THEY DON'T VOTE FOR US ANYWAY" is the only honest thing to come from Gillards mouth in the past five years. That statement portrays the "fodder" mentality that Gillard has for the electorate, and in particular the most needy segment of that electorate.

SM, I object to your single minded attack on Gillard, why pick on Gillard, the party is chock a block full of zero's.

Eminently sensible comments from Mark McGowan, I would say!

When the Federal govt is not doing well in the polls, the state govts or oppositions of the same persuasion should distance themselves. When the Feds are doing well, they should draw as much support from them as possible, especially in the lead-up to an election.

And if a state govt or opposition is going to distance itself from their Federal colleagues, then better it be out in the open than unstated or side-stepped when asked the direction questions by journalists.

Let’s face it; these days the incumbent federal government is most likely to be polling more poorly than the opposition, because of the level of discontent with all politicians, which of course gets expressed most strongly against those in power.

So what SM?
It is my Ernest wish she stays away from the Federal one!

I have always assumed that state elections were
won on state issues. Still there may be more to
it than that. People are often ready for a change
especially if one particular party has been in power for a
long time - as in the case of Queensland.

I wonder how much better off Queenslanders are today,
under a Coalition Government. Or for that matter -
how much better off are they - in NSW or Victoria?

The Coalition does not inspire confidence and if they sit
back and think that they will cruise into government - that
would be a huge mistake. They can sit back and think
that people will choose the "lesser of two evils," however
they may end up getting a rude awakening if the people
decide "better the devil they know."

As for WA - I don't think the PM's popularity (or lack of)
is going to matter. The election will be won on state issues.
It's up to Labor in WA - to persuade voters what they
have to offer the state and what their opponents don't.

The Coalition's strategy has always depended on the
electorate contuing to perceive that Labor and the PM is
failing to perform. It's up to Labor to change that
percpetion and leave the Coalition looking like they
are lacking. What just may trump things at this point
in time is the desire for voters to have a government
that will take control of Australia's present and future.
In that regard the government is doing well. Whereas the
Coalition demonstrates nothing in this area - simply only
telling voters what is wrong with the government (and the
PM) stops working after a while.

cont'd ...

BTW - The Coalition does not want Mr Abbott helping
them in their state election either - as heard on
a TV news report. Both parties want to run on their
own merit on state issues and don't want the interference
of Canberra.