Howard challenged by sexiest woman on TV

MELBOURNE: Opposition Labour party has recruited high-profile media personality Maxine McKew, called the sexiest woman on the TV by the Australian media, to take on Prime Minister John Howard in his state of New South Wales seat of Bennelong.

McKew, who worked for 30 years for the Australian Broadcasting Corp as a TV presenter before retiring late last year, confirmed on Sunday night that she was seeking Australia Labour Party pre-selection for the seat held by Howard since 1974.

Last year’s electoral redistribution significantly reduced Howard’s majority and it would take a swing of 4.2 per cent for Labour to win his seat in the election expected late this year.

McKew said she and her husband, former ALP national secretary Bob Hogg, planned to sell their home in the Sydney suburb of Mosman to move to Bennelong. Labour leader Kevin Rudd said he was delighted by McKew’s decision, The Age reported on Monday.

McKew will face a rank and file ballot for pre-selection. Rudd made it clear she would have his support. “I commend McKew for her determination and courage in contesting a seat held by the nation’s most formidable politician,” he said.

Howard, 67, has held Bennelong parliamentary seat for conservative Liberal Party for 32 years. This would be a difficult election for Labour, which needs to win 16 seats to win, he said.