Interesting challenge for Labor. It goes without saying that they have to attack Turnbull and Bishop for knifing a PM who was elected by the people (and the Libs already know that it doesn't matter that this might not be technically the case, especially as they argued the opposite when Gillard was PM). Already, Bishop sounds pathetic with her "Don't shoot the messenger" line, trying to suggest she had a duty as Deputy PM to tell Abbott that the backbench wanted him gone.
The next step is to focus on Turnbull's lack of principle in jettisoning his views regarding climate change and gay marriage. To libertarian and swing voters, the ALP has to portray Turnbull as a sellout. What good is it to them if Turnbull thinks like them but has done a deal with the Devil that will see him act like Abbott? To the conservative/far right Wing voters, the ALP has to paint Turnbull as a wolf in sheep's clothing who will betray them at the earliest opportunity.
Well handled, Labor will be able to stoke resentment from the right Wing which will destabilise the Government and exacerbate tension with the Nationals. Leaking and other tactics would help to paint Turnbull as a divisive and autocratic leader. Right Wing voters might look for right Wing alternatives as they did with Pauline Hanson. Meanwhile, centrist voters might be turned off by the sabre-rattling of the conservative Liberals, especially if Turnbull is prevented from shifting policy to the centre.
The problem is that these are contradictory messages. It would be a disaster if rightwing voters remain confident that the conservative Wing of the party has Turnbull by the balls and will use him as a puppet, while the centrist voters firmly believe that Turnbull is playing the right Wing for fools and he'll eventually be able to implement his own agenda.
Tony Abbott has provided a road map, however, for running contradictory lines successfully in negative campaigns and it wouldn't do for the Liberals to whinge about it now.
The next step is to focus on Turnbull's lack of principle in jettisoning his views regarding climate change and gay marriage. To libertarian and swing voters, the ALP has to portray Turnbull as a sellout. What good is it to them if Turnbull thinks like them but has done a deal with the Devil that will see him act like Abbott? To the conservative/far right Wing voters, the ALP has to paint Turnbull as a wolf in sheep's clothing who will betray them at the earliest opportunity.
Well handled, Labor will be able to stoke resentment from the right Wing which will destabilise the Government and exacerbate tension with the Nationals. Leaking and other tactics would help to paint Turnbull as a divisive and autocratic leader. Right Wing voters might look for right Wing alternatives as they did with Pauline Hanson. Meanwhile, centrist voters might be turned off by the sabre-rattling of the conservative Liberals, especially if Turnbull is prevented from shifting policy to the centre.
The problem is that these are contradictory messages. It would be a disaster if rightwing voters remain confident that the conservative Wing of the party has Turnbull by the balls and will use him as a puppet, while the centrist voters firmly believe that Turnbull is playing the right Wing for fools and he'll eventually be able to implement his own agenda.
Tony Abbott has provided a road map, however, for running contradictory lines successfully in negative campaigns and it wouldn't do for the Liberals to whinge about it now.