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Last Updated: Oct 6th, 2004 - 09:02:04
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CANBERRA, Sept 12 AAP - The worm turned for Mark Latham tonight but it is unclear if the leaders' debate will have a marked impact on the election. The opposition leader put on a strong showing in the debate against Prime Minister John Howard. And that alone should be enough to score the encounter as a victory for the challenger over the incumbent.
As Labor's new guy on the block, Mr Latham needed a solid
performance in order to take his message directly into the living rooms of undecided voters, and to help remind people of who he is and what he stands for. Mr Howard, in his fifth televised debate, was always going to be an easy target. After eight years as prime minister, voters already know who he is and what he stands for. So Mr Howard was always going to have to defend his policies and record against attack from his opponent. What they produced was a somewhat gentle and calm discussion about federal politics, with few real sparks, no great finger pointing and barely an insult across the Nine Network studio.
Mr Howard started by pushing his economic credentials, and by saying only by good economic management could a government deliver the social dividend, such as last week's Medicare package.
Mr Latham went straight for the key issue of security and
terrorism - areas thought to be Mr Howard's strong points.
And he was more than ready for the government attack that Labor planned to cut and run from Iraq. Mr Latham used the same words to accuse Mr Howard of planning to cut and run from the prime ministership should he be re-elected.
Score that point to Mr Latham, as Mr Howard struggled to dismiss the issue with his usual reply that he would remain leader for as long as his party and voters wanted him.
And the worm agreed with Mr Latham. The electronic gadget that measures the response of audience members to what they are hearing turned decidedly against Mr Howard on his leadership plans, and on the war on Iraq. Nine's worm scored the debate 67 per cent to 33 per cent in Mr
Latham's favour. But worms don't vote, people do. And the election is still four weeks away. That is an eternity in an election campaign. By then, most voters will have long forgotten tonight's debate.
Television debates can give leaders renewed life in an election campaign. But they rarely decide election outcomes.
With no side landing a knock-out blow, and neither leader making major gaffe, the debate is unlikely to turn the election in the same way as the worm turned for Mr Latham tonight.
© Copyright 2004 by Merlea Investments
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© 2004 Merlea Investments
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