Hi All
By now, most will have heard that October 9th is the day we all cast our votes.
So far, the focus is as I expected.
Liberals is basing their strategy on the economy and defense.
Labour on vision, social equity and values.
The trick for each party is to get their agenda to be first in our minds and media discussions. And so far…..
Liberal are winning. John Howard is very cunning. He has taken a front foot position by raising "trust" (a supposed weakness) and turning it around to focus "trust" on economic management. For example taken from today’s Australian:
Who do you trust to keep the economy strong and protect family living standards? Who do you trust to keep interest rates low? Who do you trust to lead the fight on Australia's behalf against international terrorism?
"We can be trusted more to deliver a strong economy and to keep living standards safe and to keep interest rates low. Labor in the past has always presided over high interest rates, big spending, big budget deficits."
Libs have stated interest rates will be higher under Labour, thereby baiting Labour to fight on his turf. Latham has no creditability here to call upon and simply must say "that is not so and we have changed". To do so he must show policy to demonstrate the change.
The Prime Minister called on his rival to release Labor's tax plan claiming voters had a right to know how it would be funded.
"I mean we're six weeks from the election and we don't know what this man stands for," Mr. Howard said. "He wants to be prime minister. We know that. Fair enough. But we have no idea what he stands for."
The Libs will then tear it apart unless it is very, sound and very, very easy for the average voter to understand. Complex assistance programs and tax charges bred fear.
I expect an ambush in wait for the real Labour election weakness, Simon Crean as treasurer.
Labour says this
…. the Opposition Leader began his election pitch with a call for a new generation of political leadership, promising to rebuild public services in health and education.
Risky as it assumes the generational issue matters which I believe does not. Age is irrelevant; it is good policy and the courage to act that matters.
Also there are more, older voters than ever before and Latham could play this age card to his disadvantage. His recent illness also stuffs up any edge he had on health.
More strong is
"This election is about two things overall – building a ladder of opportunity and restoring trust in our national government," Mr Latham told reporters in Sydney.
The “Ladder” comments seems to have hit a goal in many minds however many has already climbed this “ladder” under Liberals. Explosion in IP investments, super, jobs, cheap imports, etc..
Again Trust is what hits home. Whether the electorate considers punishing a Gov over lies in “children overboard” and ignoring advice on security “Iraq War” is more important than “interest rates and the economy” remains to be seen.
Lastly I read in the Sunday paper an excellent article (glenn Milne) on the election which contains these fascinating fatcs.
Who decides the outcome?
22 seats below a 4 percent margin, mostly located away from major cities or burbs in regional and coastal areas.
6 Qld & NSW, 5 in Vic, 3 in SA, 1 each WA and NT
Last election only 3500 voters in these marginal seats had to change their minds and Labour would have won. With an overall population in Aus of 20M that stat. makes you think. A percentage of only 0.0175%.
Regards Peter 147
By now, most will have heard that October 9th is the day we all cast our votes.
So far, the focus is as I expected.
Liberals is basing their strategy on the economy and defense.
Labour on vision, social equity and values.
The trick for each party is to get their agenda to be first in our minds and media discussions. And so far…..
Liberal are winning. John Howard is very cunning. He has taken a front foot position by raising "trust" (a supposed weakness) and turning it around to focus "trust" on economic management. For example taken from today’s Australian:
Who do you trust to keep the economy strong and protect family living standards? Who do you trust to keep interest rates low? Who do you trust to lead the fight on Australia's behalf against international terrorism?
"We can be trusted more to deliver a strong economy and to keep living standards safe and to keep interest rates low. Labor in the past has always presided over high interest rates, big spending, big budget deficits."
Libs have stated interest rates will be higher under Labour, thereby baiting Labour to fight on his turf. Latham has no creditability here to call upon and simply must say "that is not so and we have changed". To do so he must show policy to demonstrate the change.
The Prime Minister called on his rival to release Labor's tax plan claiming voters had a right to know how it would be funded.
"I mean we're six weeks from the election and we don't know what this man stands for," Mr. Howard said. "He wants to be prime minister. We know that. Fair enough. But we have no idea what he stands for."
The Libs will then tear it apart unless it is very, sound and very, very easy for the average voter to understand. Complex assistance programs and tax charges bred fear.
I expect an ambush in wait for the real Labour election weakness, Simon Crean as treasurer.
Labour says this
…. the Opposition Leader began his election pitch with a call for a new generation of political leadership, promising to rebuild public services in health and education.
Risky as it assumes the generational issue matters which I believe does not. Age is irrelevant; it is good policy and the courage to act that matters.
Also there are more, older voters than ever before and Latham could play this age card to his disadvantage. His recent illness also stuffs up any edge he had on health.
More strong is
"This election is about two things overall – building a ladder of opportunity and restoring trust in our national government," Mr Latham told reporters in Sydney.
The “Ladder” comments seems to have hit a goal in many minds however many has already climbed this “ladder” under Liberals. Explosion in IP investments, super, jobs, cheap imports, etc..
Again Trust is what hits home. Whether the electorate considers punishing a Gov over lies in “children overboard” and ignoring advice on security “Iraq War” is more important than “interest rates and the economy” remains to be seen.
Lastly I read in the Sunday paper an excellent article (glenn Milne) on the election which contains these fascinating fatcs.
Who decides the outcome?
22 seats below a 4 percent margin, mostly located away from major cities or burbs in regional and coastal areas.
6 Qld & NSW, 5 in Vic, 3 in SA, 1 each WA and NT
Last election only 3500 voters in these marginal seats had to change their minds and Labour would have won. With an overall population in Aus of 20M that stat. makes you think. A percentage of only 0.0175%.
Regards Peter 147
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