Dan's the man as McKew hopes for seachange

The Herald Sun

November 24, 2007

STAR Labor candidate Maxine McKew, who is hoping to replace Prime Minister John Howard in his Sydney seat of Bennelong, has cast her vote.

The former ABC journalist needs a swing of more than 4 per cent to make Mr Howard the first prime minister since Stanley Melbourne Bruce in 1929 to lose his own seat.

Adding to Ms McKew's star power, actors David Wenham and Rhys Muldoon were handing out how-to-vote cards for Labor's high profile candidate at Epping West Public School, where she voted.

Ms McKew was greeted under wet grey skies by excited children and a few parents, but perhaps the warmest greeting was received from the heartthrob Wenham.

The pair kissed and hugged before Ms McKew, at close quarters to the actor, asked him: "Are you coming tonight?''

It was an invitation to a Labor Party function later tonight.

Wenham shot to stardom in Australia as the character Diver Dan in the ABC series SeaChange.

As the pair broke their embrace, Ms McKew loudly declared: "Let's hope for a seachange for the country.''

Ms McKew was accompanied today by her husband, Labor powerbroker Bob Hogg.

After voting, a beaming Ms McKew told reporters that she had slept well last night and had been exhilarated by the campaign.

"I'm glad that after a long, intense campaign that Australia will now decide,'' she said.

Ms McKew will visit the booth at North Ryde Public School before meeting up with her supporters, including Wenham, this evening to monitor the election at the North Ryde School of Arts Community Centre.

Earlier, Mr Howard said the result in Bennelong would reflect the broader national flow of votes.

"I am quietly confident,'' he told Sky News.