If you have the advantage of all the television stations following your every move all day, you should be able to win the campaign event and so it was on Saturday. Only missing the twin set to go with the pearls, Julia Gillard showed again how beautifully she can play the conservatively attractive prime ministerial lady in setting the  August 21 election date. All those lovely moving images to driving too and from Government House and the majesty of appearing against the backdrop of the prime ministerial courtyard at Parliament House.

Meanwhile Tony Abbott was caught having to appear in front of a tawdry Brisbane Hotel backdrop where the state’s Liberal National Party was holding its annual convention. It didn’t really matter how he looked actually, although the opening shot of hands in the pockets was a bit casual for a would-be PM, as he was going to be outshone on day one whatever he did or said. On the Crikey campaign barometer we marked it seven points to Labor and five to the Coalition.

Sunday was babies day, a somewhat strange choice of political image when limiting population growth was the subject of most concern. None of that Big Australia business once favoured by the deposed Kevin Rudd. Now we are to talk of a Sustainable Australia with a wink, wink, nod, nod, that this is code for a less populous one when the increase is caused by anything other than those cuddly home-born little ones that look so good in the newspaper pictures.

Unfortunately for Labor it was also the day that the evil one returned from hob-nobbing with his former associates on the world stage of the United States. Kevin from 07 took the gloss of Julia’s day and lent Tony a campaign hand. His very presence was enough to revive the memories that our new Prime Minister is not as soft and delicate, kind and caring as those pearls might indicate. Especially in Queensland there might be a price to pay for a southerner killing off the career at the top of one of their own. Last night’s television stories along those lines were enough to secure a Coalition campaign win six points to five.

19-07-2010 thedailywinner

So two days down and a winning day each, with a marginal lead to Labor on the progressive tally.