Post by lennie on Feb 25, 2007 7:04:32 GMT -5
Former ABC journalist to challenge Howard's seat
Former ABC journalist Maxine McKew will run against Prime Minister John Howard in the seat of Bennelong at the next federal election.
Ms McKew joined the ALP recently and is working for Labor leader Kevin Rudd.
Mr Howard's seat is marginal and Ms McKew would need a swing of around 4 per cent to win it.
She says Labor needs to claim those sorts of seats if it is to win Government.
"If Kevin Rudd is to be Prime Minister after the next election then seats like Bennelong need to be contested with some vigour," she said.
"I've decided I suppose the best contribution I can make to the Labor Party as a new Labor member is to put my name forward and to be considered as a candidate in that seat."
Ms McKew says she decided to run for the marginal Liberal electorate because she believes that is more useful to the Party than contesting a safe Labor seat.
"Doing that doesn't help Kevin Rudd win the 16 seats he needs to become Prime Minister at the end of the year," she said.
"Labor needs to be contesting marginal Liberal held seats, that is the only way he's going to prevail."
A spokesman for Mr Howard says the Prime Minister is used to a tough fight in Bennelong and this will make him work even harder to represent the people of the electorate.
Former ABC journalist Maxine McKew will run against Prime Minister John Howard in the seat of Bennelong at the next federal election.
Ms McKew joined the ALP recently and is working for Labor leader Kevin Rudd.
Mr Howard's seat is marginal and Ms McKew would need a swing of around 4 per cent to win it.
She says Labor needs to claim those sorts of seats if it is to win Government.
"If Kevin Rudd is to be Prime Minister after the next election then seats like Bennelong need to be contested with some vigour," she said.
"I've decided I suppose the best contribution I can make to the Labor Party as a new Labor member is to put my name forward and to be considered as a candidate in that seat."
Ms McKew says she decided to run for the marginal Liberal electorate because she believes that is more useful to the Party than contesting a safe Labor seat.
"Doing that doesn't help Kevin Rudd win the 16 seats he needs to become Prime Minister at the end of the year," she said.
"Labor needs to be contesting marginal Liberal held seats, that is the only way he's going to prevail."
A spokesman for Mr Howard says the Prime Minister is used to a tough fight in Bennelong and this will make him work even harder to represent the people of the electorate.