The SMH argues in its recent editorial that Malcolm Turnbull could lose if Liberal partisans consider Turnbull does not represent their ideals and interests.
Only a few months ago, there was widespread gloom and despondency on Opposition benches. Bill Shorten's prospects had been written off and his leadership regarded as no more than a joke.
Yet here we are seven weeks before the federal election and Shorten could be our sixth prime minister in as many years. The Labor leader gave Turnbull such a good thumping in their first TV debate on Friday night.
While the PM was dull and dithering, ill at ease with answering questions from ordinary Australians about hip-pocket issues, Shorten was sound in style and substance.
What's different about Turnbull is that he has not actually done anything to explain his rapid downhill trajectory. He is no Paul Keating or Campbell Newman, legislating unpopular big-bang reforms in the national interest or spending cuts to rein in budget deficits as far as the eye can see. Contradicting himself almost every week, Turnbull has stood fast in indecision.
I know many life-long Liberal partisans who won't vote for the Coalition on July 2.
Why? Because they feel Turnbull does not represent their ideals and interests: he won't prosecute the case against Labor's ETS, nor will he unashamedly defend tough border protection. His proposal to change superannuation is just the latest example of betrayal. The party of Menzies, Howard and Costello, remember, is the custodian of the centre-right tradition in Australian politics. He has seven weeks to confound his critics.
