Treasurer Peter Costello has read and understood the Mark Textor research. In his public appearances Mr Costello religiously stresses that he is campaigning as part of a team. That is exactly what the CrosbyTextor Nationwide Strategy Overview of June recommended.

Prime Minister John Howard is finding the second part of the advice easier to follow than the first. He sprinkles his press conferences with references to union bosses and State Premiers but is finding it more difficult to regularly share the limelight with his colleagues.

There is not much emphasis on the experienced team while he struts the world stage as host of an APEC meeting. That is very much a solo effort and it is rare to see Mr Howard out and about flanked by his Cabinet colleagues

If Mr Howard is determined to stay on as leader until the election, he should cast his mind back to the campaign of 1980. Labor’s Bill Hayden trailed badly behind Malcolm Fraser when people thought of leadership and there was a similar sense of desperation among Labor candidates as today there is among Liberals.

The Labor leader put aside his vanity and agreed to become merely one of a triumvirate. Mr Hayden was flanked at public appearances with then ACTU boss Bob Hawke and a still popular NSW Premier Neville Wran and a forecast crushing defeat ended up being a narrow one.