john howard - new honour, page-80

Another newcomer Liberal was able to win back the seat but he didnt win it from a Prime Minister just a from another first term newcomer. I was actually saddened that Howard could not go with a bit more dignity. Had he handed over the baton to Costello earlier this indignity would not have occurred. To be only the second PM in history to not only lose Government but also his own seat could have been avoided and his record as a winner would have been intact. Its a bit like a boxer retiring as world champion rather than a defeated one. The former usually comes off the better.