With Howard secure and the coalition ascendant, this means little in the short term. Surprisingly, the leadership question was injected into the debate by one of the Prime Minister's closest supporters. It was Abbott who warned last weekend that a win for the yes case would be portrayed in the media in ways that were bad for Howard. The message to colleagues from Costello, on the other hand, is that nothing should be read into the outcome. Indeed he has always believed it was more likely that the republic would be defeated and is philosophical about the outcome.
Elections are close shaves and they can turn countries.
But he got home. Any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.