yes dave, it is all academic now. But of the many what ifs, I think that if Costello had been handed the leadership earlier, he still may not have made it to the election as leader. I doubt if he would have swung support back to the Liberals and if the signs were that the election may be lost with him as leader, there would be even less stopping anyone making a last minute challenge, there would have been little to lose. I think the die was set years ago when Costello started to be seen as the natural heir, which Howard may have done in order to keep any potential challengers at bay, or else he was upping the stakes hoping that a worthy successor would rise up and oust them both. The game of politics is not about succession, but about survival of the fittest. Anyone who has watched Lion King knows that. ;)
