Although would-be politicians usually fight like pitbulls for media attention, one recently nominated candidate for a marginal seat is currently refusing all media queries and staying inside the commentary box.
John Alexander, the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Bennelong, evidently cannot speak to the media about his campaign because he is too busy commenting on the tennis.
Australian Open spokesperson Penelope Cross told me in an email that “JA is working full-time on the Oz Open coverage for us at present and that’s his focus till the tournament concludes on January 31”.
He also told the local newspaper, the Northern District Times, he was unable to be involved in any media interviews that could “negatively impact” on Seven’s coverage of the tennis.
Did the local Liberals know, when he was preselected on December 16, that he would be unable to speak publicly about anything other than Lleyton Hewitt’s backhand for the whole of January?
It’s not as if he is actually playing. I checked Seven’s website, and he appears to be one of a team of commentators — couldn’t he take a few media calls between sets?
It’s even more perplexing when you consider that Bennelong, on any terms, is a winnable seat. The ALP’s Maxine McKew holds it with a margin of just 1.4%, meaning that “JA”, as he is known, is in with a fighting chance.
According to the ABC’s election guru, Antony Green, “… constitutional timing issues make the seven Saturdays between August 7 and September 18 the most likely dates” for the next federal election.
So JA and the local Liberals have just six or seven months to get their acts together and convince the Bennelong electors that he is the best person to represent them in Canberra.
So far, he has made few public statements, apart from promising to “make every effort to win back this sacred ground for our Liberal Party”.
The ALP is making hay with the fact that Alexander doesn’t live in the electorate and that Bennelong is his second choice; he previously stood for preselection in Bradfield. If he wants to win, he needs to get out there and start campaigning.
Last December I ran into one of McKew’s volunteers, and he told me that her team has been door-knocking the electorate since January 2008. JA will miss Australia Day, but looks like he will be around for the firecracker-laden Chinese New Year celebrations. Hope he likes gunpowder.
They may as well have preselected John Howard.
It will be unfortunate for the good voters of Bennelong if Mr Alexander takes his pompous, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, attitude into an election campaign. The little people will hardly get a look in. Perhaps the candidate is hoping his boorish tones will be sufficient to win over the good folk of Bennelong, as he Rogers this and Rafa’s that, while surnames are good enough for the lesser playing lights. It smacks of well heeled ville, and Bennelong may not be up to Mr Alexanders life style and comfort zone.
I suspect the sitting member, Maxine McKew is quietly very happy with JA excercising his tonsils at the tennis
Indeed JA too busy while commentating for 7 tennis coverage, therefore not available for Bennelong politicing. 7 and or JA are kidding us viewers. With some irritation because of national importance of our Australian Open, we hear and view again the top draw game commentaters having that familiar foreign accent and appear for all VIP post game interviews. This time that included introducing HRH Prince William. Channel 7 have again delegated the most saleable commercial value for them games to two historic American players. Tennis no longer needs John Alexander and likely Maxine McKew will be taking comfort in her near future planning if samething happens in JA very unfamiliar Bennelong.