Politicians are arriving left, right and centre (mostly right) to “press the flesh” ahead of the July 2 popularity contest otherwise known as the federal election.
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For anyone who’s door knocked for work or charity it is difficult to avoid having the door shut in your face, yet some people are born with the powers of persuasion, able to sell anything to just about anyone.
Our distinguished guests aren’t staying in local hotels, being driven from A to B in local hire cars or even eating at local cafes they overrun with their media sidekicks in search of a wide-angle photograph of the perfect handshake.
It was not a case of Malcolm in the middle this week, but perhaps Peter in the middle, as local MP Peter Hendy’s close associates flooded the bellwether seat with their presence.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s first day of the campaign began with a morning ABC radio interview before a flight to Merimbula and back from the nation’s capital, before finishing the day with an appearance on commercial television from Adelaide.
Malcolm Turnbull’s visit, coincidentally of course, coincided with Labor leader Bill Shorten’s popularity with voters at a 12-month high and a leaked poll showing the Coalition trailing by six points in Eden-Monaro.
Turnbull touched down in Merimbula on Monday morning, the same seaside town where a local had thrown a punch at Dr Hendy during a public meeting in May last year, before jumping in a car driven the three-hour journey by staff from the ACT.
If we were American it would be the equivalent of John Kerry and Barack Obama visiting within a fortnight.
Mr Turnbull then jetted to Avalon airport near Geelong later that day for more “flesh pressing”.
With all of this travel they are racking up the air miles, so it’s no wonder climate science has been left off the catchphrase whiteboard brainstorming sessions this campaign, despite Mr Turnbull’s address to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris late last year and the projection 2016 will set a new global temperature record.
Despite their differences, there is something each party leader chasing Australia’s top job have in common – it’s their first election campaign as leader.
Yet they all appear as though they’ve done it before. Maybe it’s the training.