Sunday, October 14, 2007
VERY MUCH ON
• January 24: Labor leader Kevin Rudd challenges Prime Minister John Howard to a debate on education.
• February 14: Rudd challenges Howard to a debate on Iraq.
• August 31: Rudd challenges Howard to a debate on industrial relations.
• September 10: Rudd declares himself “happy to debate Mr Howard whenever he wants to debate me.”
Well, OK. As South Park political philosopher Chef once observed: “If you get served and you serve them back, then it’s on!” And on it definitely is:
Prime Minister John Howard wants to debate Labor leader Kevin Rudd just one week into the election campaign.
He is proposing the live audience debate take place in the Great Hall of Parliament House next Sunday, moderated by Sky New’s political editor David Speers.
This campaign might be more fun than we thought.
UPDATE. Brisbane’s Courier-Mail:
Prime Minister John Howard has rejected a suggestion that desperation has driven him to chase Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd for a debate.
Rudd’s been chasing Howard all year.
Mr Rudd has said he wants the prime minister to respond specifically to Labor’s proposal for three debates before he commits to Mr Howard’s proposal.
So much for being “happy to debate Mr Howard whenever he wants to ...”