BY mid-afternoon on election day in November 2007, John Howard sensed his almost 12-year Coalition government faced defeat and he was likely to lose his seat of Bennelong. By 8.30pm, he knew his instincts had been right.
It was a humiliating end to a 33-year parliamentary career and a term as prime minister that left him second to Robert Menzies for longevity. Only Menzies had led a party to more election victories.
