Former prime minister John Howard has hit the campaign trail, returning to traditional "battler" country in Sydney's west.
Mr Howard went on a walkabout through Westfield Penrith Plaza on Wednesday with Lindsay MP Fiona Scott, marking a political homecoming to one of the seats which helped deliver his four federal election victories.
"It's one that we captured from the Labor Party the first time when my government was elected and we held it for a long time," Mr Howard said.
The veteran campaigner was unsurprisingly singing from the coalition's hymn sheet in Penrith, making sure jobs and growth were never far from the conversation.
It is almost 20 years ago since he claimed Liberal Jackie Kelly's by-election victory in Lindsay attributing it to his slogan of the day - Howard's battlers.
And on his latest return to the electorate, the 76-year-old weaved his way through cafes and shops, greeting pensioners and families with a hearty "good to see you".
When the battlers begged for his return, he was quick to point to Malcolm Turnbull's understanding of the economy.
While polls suggest the opposition is getting some traction with voters in the early stages of a marathon campaign, Mr Howard was quick to downplay any sense of Labor's momentum.
"What always happens in an election campaign is once the campaign starts is that a lot of people for the first time take a bit of notice of the opposition leader. I've been there," Mr Howard said.
Mr Howard seemed happy to be home.
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