[CutePuppy]

Thank you.

I see some recent electoral USA-AUS pattern here. Can you check and see if the pattern holds, going back?

In 1993 unpopular Keating (Labor) reelected after Clinton victory in US. Howard (Coalition) wins after 1994 “Gingrich Revolution” and Republican sweep in Congress. Rudd (Labor) wins a year after Democrats take back Congress in 2006, even with economy in generally great shape and commodities soaring in price.

[newzjunkey]

I for one have watched with this as potential kind of bell weather for what we're in for next November.

They had many issues with which we are familiar: immigration, Iraq, anti-terrorism, economic growth, health care, gay rights, social security, education spending, corporate taxes and global warming.

The election doesn't appear to have been as close as some were contending in saying the outcome wouldn't be known until Monday.

We need to look closely at Rudd and see if he had any "help" from Clinton war-room hatchetmen. Carville, for one, has been involved in past foreign elections.