molonski, there is no doubt in my mind that Costello would not have won the election, but I think it may have been an even bigger loss. Costello in my eyes was simply not leadership material, and I've held that opinion from the days when he and Downer first flirted with it, and I think Howard had long known it as well. The carry on since the loss simply confirms it all the more. Howard could see the writing on the wall. If he handed over to Costello who went on to lose, Howard would be accused of deserting the Liberals to avoid personal defeat and thus saving his own reputation. If he stayed and lost he would be viewed, as I posted previously, as the general who tried to take one bridge too many. Howard was a very shrewd politician, and how history would view him would be important to him.
