Campbell’s chance. Environment Minister Senator Ian Campbell reportedly had his eye on Geoff Prosser’s seat of Forrest as a spot to move to in the Reps. With the storm surrounding preselected candidate Philippa Reid increasing in intensity and Liberal state council likely to reopen the preselection, does he now have a chance?

A small silver lining for Maurice Iemma. More talk reaches Crikey of widening splits between Sam Witheridge and Michael Photios supporters among the NSW Liberal moderates as the weekend Legislative Council preselection looms. All eyes are on Rockdale Councillor John Ajaka and who his new friends are. The Love Rat scarcely looked sleek when spotted by a Crikey subscriber in Pitt Street recently.

Canberra, Sister City of Baghdad? ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope is a noted media tart – but does anyone give a flying f-ck about his views on Saddam’s sentence?