PM Julia Gillard retains top spot by the skin of her teeth this week, on the back of the NDIS and news she will visit Queensland, where Premier Campbell Newman will sign up to a full rollout of DisabilityCare. Victoria signed up earlier this week, with Western Australia and the NT yet to commit.

But the real story in media coverage terms is that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott received virtually equal coverage with the PM, including on the NDIS, indicating the reality has set in that he’ll likely be PM, and almost suggesting the election is already over and we’re in the twilight zone.

For, despite getting a ton of breakfast TV coverage out of his Pollie Pedal, almost all the news has been policy-related for weeks now — it’s as if he’s seen as de facto PM already, or at the very least that since the election date was announced we’re effectively in campaign mode so the pair garner equal time. Whichever way we slice the data, it’s yet more bad news for the (real) PM.

Other movers this week belie the fact a federal budget will be handed down next week: Immigration Minister Brendan O’Connor saying more asylum seekers will be released into the community on bridging visas; Defence Minister Stephen Smith with a new white paper; Peter Slipper back in court on appeal; Joe Ludwig on live cattle exports; and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy unveiling the NBN in Blacktown — complete with a technical glitch that delighted some journos.

Crikey Political Index: May 2-8

Shock jocks had a field day when Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC was requested by Qantas flight crew to switch off his mobile phone, leading him to be reminded of airport safety rules by a security manager.

Talkback top five

In line with increased mainstream coverage, Abbott’s social media traction appears to be growing.

Social media top five

Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to challenge the weekend’s election and urged protests, claiming it was rigged.

Comparisons on media mentions