Presumably the section of the book covers the 2001 election.
IIRC in the lead up to that election the polls weren't as good for the Liberals as they were after those unsettling events occurred. Not having read the book and not having access to the whole section I can't say any more other than she seems to be saying Howard was a skillful campaigner who she thinks played the Tampa asylum seeker affair off against the fear of terror.
Howard seems to deny that he did that.
I always thought he did but if he denies that then I'll take his word for it.
