Boxing shadows

AS Kevin Rudd limbers up in the red corner for Labor, Strewth is growing giddy with flashbacks to 2007.

AS Kevin Rudd limbers up in the red corner for Labor, stretching protective tape over his surgical wounds and glaring across at John Howard, freshly dusted off and propped on his stool in the blue corner, Strewth is growing giddy with flashbacks to 2007.

We checked in with Bill Leak and found him similarly transported and on the verge of resurrecting his old Rudd v Howard boxing ring series. Clearly, we're just symptoms of a broader phenomenon, but it seems Labor is finally awake to this danger of brand confusion and so, for the first time (as far as we can tell amid this campaign's relentless torrent of press releases with generic headings), they cranked out one yesterday pointedly stamped GILLARD GOVERNMENT. That clears that up, then.

Invasive surgery

SO was it just the gall bladder extraction that converted Rudd from the last of the Jargonauts into a crystal-tongued messiah? (From the Book of Relegations: "And yea, crucified Kevin rose again and didst say, 'Forgiveth them, for they knoweth not what they do. But at least they not knoweth in a manner that begetteth less wailing and gnashing of teeth than the manner in which Tony and the Liberalites not knoweth. Of the Nationals, I need not speak, for in the field of not knoweth, they are lords."). It seems Julia Gillard has come to see the light over the operating table rather than the light on the hill as the way forward, at least judging by this startling admission to broadcaster Jon Faine yesterday: "Both Kevin and I, we need to have the Blackberry surgically removed."

Curious, we are

A VISION has come to Strewth in a dream, a scene uncannily like that in Return of the Jedi. Julia Gillard, her poll numbers brutally lopped off by Darth Abbott in the previous episode, returns to a familiar little hut by a rain-pummeled swamp. Inside, an older, sadder Rudd (now, with long green ears; put it down to medical side effects) chastises his wayward protege: "Unfortunate, Jules, that you rushed to face Abbott, that incomplete was your training. Not ready for the burden were you." "But Master Rudda, I've come back to complete the training." "What? Via Blackberry train you? Pah! A Laborite craves not these things." "But I need your help." "Hmm. Leave exile may I? A lectern with two flags and many television cameras may I have?" "Done." "Say can I, agree with this plan then I do." Of course, this was just a far-fetched dream. Just try imagining those two having a face-to-face conversation.

An island retreat

SO there was Tony Abbott, having made the effort to go all the way to Tasmania, only to cop the impertinence of Aunty's Roisin McCann: "Your absence from this state has been noticed during this campaign." ("I was in Tasmania just a few weeks ago," Abbott protested.) Then it was off to Devonport to announce funding for a $7 million linear accelerator at Burnie hospital, only to receive less than total assistance from local member Garry Carpenter who, in his rush to express the magnitude of his gratitude, characterised it as "an unbelievable announcement". Still, he seemed happy.

Coming to the party

WITH the PM's newfound enthusiasm for a second debate matched by Tony Abbott's equally newfound non-enthusiasm, we're pleased to see the Australian Sex Party offering to help out and have their leader, Fiona Patten, fill in for the Iron Monk. The ASP's Robbie Swan admits he's not overflowing with hope, telling Strewth: "The PM's office wouldn't comment and referred me to the campaign office. They said that they would 'pass the idea on up the line'. I wasn't sure whether the line was a 'conga line' or whether it was another phone line but I'm waiting with bated breath for a call back."

Off the Mark

SPEAKING of conga lines, there was a startling presence in the ghostly corridors of Parliament House yesterday. Yes, Mark Latham is on the march, and he's found someone new to betray. Happily, he's also making a TV special on the campaign, one scheduled by the sheerest of coincidences to air on the eve of Labor's campaign launch. And yet, as we ponder the phenomena of Real Julia and Kev 2.0, we wonder which Latham this is. When asked to comment on Rudd's resurrection, he declined to comment. True story! We assumed he'd be making the special with Sky News, his chosen vehicle for his recent seismic interviews, but Sky has become the latest group to be ratted on by Latham, who's gone to 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes executive producer Hamish Thompson tells our field agent (let's call him Christian Kerr): "Politicians from both sides of the fence have been a little reluctant to be interviewed by Mark."

Devine intervention

IN staff movements corner, columnist Miranda Devine has quit the The Sydney Morning Herald for News Limited (which also publishes this august organ). Devine is returning to her old stamping ground at The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, the latest in a tide of Fairfax refugees so vast, we think of News HQ as the Surry Hills solution.

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