When asked who was the “best candidate to lead the Liberal Party” out of Mr Turnbull, Mr Costello, Mr Hockey and Mr Abbott, it was Australia’s longest-serving treasurer who got most support at 36%. — today’s Australian
In case some people missed it, Peter Costello has said he is leaving politics. No really. He’s said it quite clearly, not once, not twice … several times.
Which makes you wonder why Newspoll insists on including him in its question rating possible leaders of the Liberal Party, a question that seems aimed not at merely embellishing the statistical record, but also, quite cynically, at undermining Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership. (As if Turnbull needed any help.)
Does Newspoll know something we don’t? Do they have a special insight into the mind of the Member for Higgins? Unlikely. It is at moments like these that we are reminded that Newspoll is a proprietary product of the News Ltd empire. A poll whose findings can be used to further the editorial aims of its partner newspapers. The Australian has long campaigned vigorously on Costello’s behalf, now it seems it’s Newspoll’s turn.
Still, if people are going to be polled on who they’d want to see lead the Liberal Party regardless of actual availability, we’d like to see a proper range of contenders … a list that would really show Malcolm just how unelectably unpopular he is.
The former member for Bennelong is at a loose end … why not include him in the next survey? How about Robert Menzies? Sure, he’s dead, but that’s a mere detail. Winston Churchill? He was both a Liberal and a Conservative and is therefore a perfect Turnbull contrast. Teddy Roosevelt? Abraham Lincoln? Elizabeth 1? Pericles? OK, that last one’s silly — he wouldn’t speak English. Who would win in a contest between Malcolm Turnbull and Jesus? Obviously Christ wouldn’t do so well with core Coalition voters because he was a socialist, but still … and then there’s Superman. Captain Kirk. Matt Preston. Gandalf…
Come on Newspoll, let’s see the numbers.
Costello has only said he won’t stand for thenext election so the party will beg him to come back & save them, basically it’s the Colin Barnett procees.
This way he gets to be leader without having to do anything. He can sit on the sidelines pontificating and building an image without having to face the day to day pressure og having to back his words up.
He gets to be leader without the hassle of going through a fight and is drafted in just before an election when the polls show disater is looming. By appearing as the messiah he gets a chance at winning again a la Barnett, the unwinnable election.
Even if he doesn’t win the election he will improve the vote to give him momentum for the next.
If the party doesn’t call him & they get thumped then it’s a case of I told you so by hius supporters & an even more urgent drafting of him back into the leadereship even if it means a by election
By stepping aside in the interim he gets to distance himself from the Howard years & rebuild his image in different light without the cold hand of Workchoices over his head
Costello is a long way from finished
Jesus doesn’t speak english either.
Pav, I think that’s technically impossible. Liberal preselection closed last week or something, which means that Peter can’t run at the next election. To drop him in as leader, doesn’t he already have to be an elected representative? Of are you suggesting a Mike Brearly style leader; ie the non-playing captain.
Evan
To get Barnett into the chair they had to dump his replacement who had been preselected for Cottesloe.
It’s very possible.
I guess it’s just Liberal policy and no-one else’s business isn’t it? If he’s the Lib candidate at the election he can be voted in.