In the latest Shanahan hero-worship piece on Howard (comments here), he makes an attempt to move the spotlight onto Peter Costello:
The Coalition needs Peter Costello more than ever before. In the election campaign, as a putative prime minister or a leader of the Opposition after the election campaign, the Liberal deputy and Treasurer is the Coalition’s answer.
…
The simple proposition for the Liberals going into the election is that Costello is part of the team and represents both a younger generation and the future. The reality and symbolism are clear.
Costello is younger than Howard and the same age as Rudd. Costello has championed his Inter-Generational Report which looks 40 years ahead in an economic sense and has laid out his own agenda of addressing climate change and higher education.
…
For Costello to have real commitment and success he has to be assured that a selfless campaign which takes on an awesome responsibility without the trappings of the top job will be rewarded. Howard is ensuring he’s giving Costello his backing.
Assuming the coalition loses, my guess is Shanahan is setting things up to hang at least some of the responsibility on the public’s dislike of Costello, thus preserving the legend of St Winston the Wonderful.
