THERE has been a curious anomaly in Australian politics for some years now.
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On the one hand, we are warned that Australia is being dragged down the American path of "presidential-style campaigns" where the parties' election advertising focuses more on their leader than their politics and voters are given the impression they are being asked to vote for the prime minister rather than their local member.
Of course, that's not how the Westminster system works but it is easier (and cheaper) for political parties to promote one leader rather than 150 candidates.
On the other hand, though, we regularly see opinion polls that show one party well ahead on a two-party preferred basis while the leader of the other party remains the preferred PM. So much for supporting the leader, not the party.
We saw it again on Monday when two published polls showed the federal opposition to be well ahead in the election race while the Coalition's Scott Morrison was still well ahead of Labor's Bill Shorten as preferred PM.
There's no doubt, though, over which is the more significant result.
Mr Morrison might takes some comfort from his lead over Mr Shorten as preferred PM but it will mean nothing if the two-party preferred numbers cannot be turned around. And, given the polls were taken after last week's vote-buying budget was handed down by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, there appears to be little chance of that.
And every day Mr Morrison delays calling an election, giving the Coalition another day to use taxpayers' money to buy advertising to promote that budget, he is simply turning off more voters.
Yes, every government promotes their budgets in this way but this one is very different: Mr Frydenberg's budget will only be adopted if the Coalition remains in power after the election.
As it stands it is nothing more than a policy document, an election sweetener, and that's why it is immoral to use taxpayers' money to advertise it. The government pretends it doesn't understand the difference, but voters do.
But when you're behind in the polls and the election deadline is fast approaching, you might might do whatever it takes to try and turn the tide.
A better approach, though, would be to simply call the election and let the people have their say - once and for all.