Hi Ben, I strongly agree the date setting was as much about keeping her own in cheque as it is about the opposition.
Now consider what if the date is a deceitful decoy?
I recall reports late last year of Labor preparing for an election campaign.
Lets say Gillard creates a diversion or is dumped on que, and an immediate election is called as a result - the opposition is then caught flat footed while a well prepped Labor spin campaign kicks into gear.
