Rudd, Howard do battle over worm

My thoughts: The election is coming. I will be voting Labor! However, I hate the

antics and mudraking the politicians do. Just get on with it boys and leave the games

at home! All we want is honest men to do an honest day's pay for us the tax payers.

After all, we do employ you! Why do they forget that!

 

Mr Howard... why do you think us "under dogs" are stupid? We have seen you line the pockets of your own party, and support the bosses... and now suddenly there is an election you are looking

out for us... oh come on!!! Oh Pleasssssse! We are not idiots! Mr Howard, I wont be voting for you! You are gonnnnnneeeee!

K.

 

 

Wednesday Oct 17 19:13 AESTOpposition Leader Kevin Rudd is asking Australia to vote - for a worm.

Prime Minister John Howard and Mr Rudd have been bickering all week about the format and timing of the debates in the lead-up to the November 24 election.

The latest stoush is over Mr Howard's refusal to allow the television networks to use the so-called worm - a thin white line tasked with measuring audience reaction - during Sunday's leaders debate.

The prime minister went out of his way to explain that he was not anti-worm, but believes the creatures are best left in the garden.

He thinks the worm will distract viewers from the leaders' message.

"No I'm not scared of the worm, I love worms, they're very very valuable for your garden," Mr Howard quipped.

"But the point I make is this, the problem with worms in this context is that people look at the worm rather than actually listen to the arguments and that is the reason why a lot of people don't like it."

But Mr Rudd is backing the worm, and wants his supporters to express their admiration in a petition launched on his campaign website.

"Mr Howard is afraid to face the voters when he debates with Kevin Rudd," the Kevin07 website declares.

"He's refusing to allow the worm in, be a friend to the worm and sign our petition to let the worm in."

The petition is accompanied by a sad-faced cartoon worm and the slogan "Be a friend of the worm".

Last election, the worm was a friend of Labor, strongly favouring then-leader Mark Latham over Mr Howard.

"We are giving people the opportunity to formally register and put pressure on John Howard over the debate," a Labor spokesman explained.

"I think many Australians are fond of the worm even if the PM isn't."

The two leaders are still at a stalemate over the timing of the election debate.

Mr Rudd is demanding that three debates be held over the six weeks of the campaign.

But the prime minister says he will be in Parliament House's Great Hall at 7.30pm (AEST) on Sunday, even if he is doing all the talking himself.

While Labor has a commanding lead in the opinion polls, Mr Rudd was trying to claim underdog status on the debate battleground.

"I know I'm up against a clever, cunning politician who's been in politics for 30 to 40 years," he said.

"I go into this as a rookie, that's why I can't understand why he wouldn't have three."

©AAP 2007