Analysis: Don’t be fooled, this daggy dad will fight to the death

While rain poured outside, Steven Miles stood resolute in front of his adoring supporters and declared he’s far from finished in the battle for power.

Premier Steven Miles with his wife Kim and daughter Bridie 10, Cameron Dick and Shannon Fentiman as he holds his party launch at the North Lakes Community Centre. Picture: Adam Head

Rain poured outside, but in a dry and stuffy room full of friends Steven Miles’s message was clear – this suburban dad isn’t done yet.

Campaign launches are for building momentum and maintaining self-belief among MPs rather than a pitch to undecided voters.

They’re raucous affairs, even if polling is pointing to a wipe-out.

Backed by Labor’s undisputed hero, Peter Beattie, Mr Miles was all smiles at Labor’s campaign launch and why wouldn’t he be?

Premier Steven Miles won’t go down without a fight. Picture: Adam Head

Labor heads insist the election race is tightening and while none are expecting the premier to pull off a miracle victory, they’re taking solace in the struggle within the LNP camp.

Halfway through this election campaign, Mr Miles is winning.

He and Labor have benefited from Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s self-inflicted wounds on abortion, costings and the weekend’s announcement of a new dam without the most basic details.

Despite having what US politics dubs “the big mo”, there was an underlying sense of pessimism in Labor’s campaign launch.

Holding it in the squishy North Lakes Community Centre meant the launch lost its sense of occasion.

The crowd was sympathetic, but every one of them understood the height of the mountain they needed to climb.

Premier Steven Miles talks at the Labor campaign launch. Picture: Adam Head

Mr Miles was painted as a “kid from Petrie” who, as Deputy Premier Cameron Dick said, was now “a real Queenslander from the outer suburbs like so many of us here today”.

Every speaker – except his wife Kim – spoke of the danger of an LNP government.

Again, the theme centred on linking Mr Crisafulli to Campbell Newman and wrongly claimed the LNP had already promised to cut 12,000 health workers.

In a Labor promotional video one health worker sensationally declared Mr Crisafulli sent a “shiver up my spine” when he promised to protect the public service.

While much was made about Annastacia Palaszczuk’s campaign snub, her non-attendance probably helps Mr Miles.

How could this premier who has spent 10 months distancing himself from Ms Palaszczuk’s legacy, happily be photographed alongside her?

With pre-poll about to open, this race remains alive.

Originally published as Analysis: Don’t be fooled, this daggy dad will fight to the death