The prime minister and opposition leader will be keeping an eye on Western Australia's election results for swings that could offer clues for the fate of the federal poll.

The leaders of the major parties are acutely aware that a misstep when responding to a natural disaster can have major political consequences.

Anthony Albanese says Australia must consider supporting Europe by sending peacekeepers to Ukraine. Peter Dutton’s been too hasty in retreat on that prospect.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton send clear signals that we stand as a nation with Ukraine but they are not dealing with the deeper reality that our once reliable American partner is no longer reliable in the same way.

Both parties are using advertising and public rhetoric to focus attention on the negatives aspects of their opponents.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accused Anthony Albanese of being “completely out of his depth” on national security, claiming the Prime Minister had made the “wrong call” when asked if Australia would send troops to Ukraine.

Albanese and Dutton have embraced a strategy that helped return Trump to the White House: courting influencers who lob soft questions for audiences who don’t follow mainstream news.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton condemns Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his continuous “gaffes” surrounding Australia’s national security.

Sky News host Andrew Bolt says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is “scared of debate” against Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as he called for it to happen on the ABC.

Anthony Albanese has slapped down Peter Dutton’s plan to force the public service back to office should he be elected as a “lazy” policy stolen from the Trump administration.

Already, the election campaign is a daily, personal brawl over character. No wonder politics is getting so personal.

The opinion polls remain close but political insiders have little idea what’s happening outside and what will sway voters on election day.