Check the stats

Since Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott began their regular Friday morning sparring sessions on the Nine Network's Today program earlier this year, Strewth has observed that show host Karl Stefanovic has favoured the Deputy PM over the Opposition Leader, if only because he enjoys a spot of flirting with the powerful red-head ("You look great", "That's a nice skirt").

Since Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott began their regular Friday morning sparring sessions on the Nine Network's Today program earlier this year, Strewth has observed that show host Karl Stefanovic has favoured the Deputy PM over the Opposition Leader, if only because he enjoys a spot of flirting with the powerful red-head ("You look great", "That's a nice skirt").

But forensic research by Strewth's statisticians has confirmed our suspicions that Abbott is struggling to get a word in edgeways. Yesterday, during their 10-minute on-air debate, Gillard spoke 1100 words while Abbott only got 599 words out. On March 19, when the bungled Building the Education Revolution scheme was the hot topic, Gillard gabbed on for 1084 words while Abbott could squeeze out only 566, though to be fair, Gillard had a fair bit of explaining to do. Indeed, in their nine on-air meetings so far this year, Abbott has managed to out-word Gillard on only one occasion. While the Gillard's jabbering could be considered a bit rude by some, verbosity is a well regarded trait within the ALP; just ask Kevin Rudd and former leader Kim Beazley.

Rudd-style romance

IF one's method of proposal is any measure of a man, Kevin Rudd's son Nick is not destined to be a politician. The PM announced yesterday - via Twitter - that his eldest son had popped the question to long-time girlfriend Zara (pictured) during a romantic evening in Prague. The PM spoke of his family's joy on Seven's Sunrise yesterday, where host David Koch managed this question without bursting into uproarious laughter or even a hint of irony. "So is he a romantic like you? Where did you propose to Therese?" Kochie asked. "I was at a restaurant somewhere in Canberra," Rudd replied. "Lakeside Hotel, there you go. He actually chose the Charles Bridge in Prague. So he's romantic." The image of the romantic man-made banks of Lake Burley Griffin apparently jolted Kochie into a realisation of the absurdity of his question."Oh OK . . . he's a lot more romantic than you."

Wine and nipples

ONE of several ALP hopefuls seeking preselection for the safe Labor seat of Canberra managed to garner himself some publicity this week by appealing to a tried and tested media tool: sex sells. But it was all by accident. Former political adviser and Cambridge University doctor of philosophy Brendan Long sent a short invitation to his email list on Thursday suggesting a lovely little Labor get-together. "Dear ALP member, I want to invite you to an informal get-together and chat with me over wine and nipples about the key issue in the upcoming preselection," Long said. "Kids are most welcome." Long assured Strewth yesterday that the slippery little error was quickly corrected and blamed the spell checker, which apparently didn't recognise the word nibble.

A reluctant juror

A DISMISSED juror in a Victorian Supreme Court murder trial now may have to face court for a very different reason. The Victorian Supreme Court heard yesterday that a day after being empanelled as a juror in a 15-day trial, the young father was allegedly told by his boss that he was too busy for justice and would not get paid if he turned up to court instead of work. The man was tracked down at work later that morning by court officers and forced to attend the proceeding, only to hear the jury would be dismissed. The reluctant juror, who told the court that he had no idea he had committed a criminal offence, was then presented with a copy of his Facebook posts from the day before. One status update read out to the court said: "everyone is guilty". The man and his boss will be investigated for contempt of court and, if convicted, they could be posting Facebook updates from prison for up to six months.

Good riddance

THE average IQ of the Queensland Young Liberal National Party rose sharply yesterday after first-year medical student Nick Sowden was dumped from the branch for posting racist comments about Barack Obama on his Twitter page. The 22-year-old made his observations while watching ABC1's Kerry O'Brien interview the US President on Thursday night. "I'm not sure why they paid kerry to fly to america, if they wanted an interview with a monkey surely a ferry to Taronga (zoo) would have sufficed (sic)," one tweet read. Yesterday, the president's committee of the LNP voted to expel Sowden from the party for bringing it into disrepute. But Sowden didn't go quietly, offering this insight as he left the building. "I don't think Barack Obama's a monkey; you can't be a monkey and be president of the United States." But it seems anyone can join the Young LNP.

Poached from Kerry

THE ABC has recruited one of its own to headline its new 24-hour free news channel. The 7.30 Report's political editor Chris Uhlmann will move to the new channel, ABC News 24, which will launch mid-year.