Coalition of the Winning

Under the glittering chandeliers of the Wentworth Hotel on Saturday night, even before the uniformed police with sniffer dogs have been replaced by waiters with trays of tempura prawns and chilled champagne, the familiar thrill of success begins wafting through the room. As the crowd of sedate scions in evening wear and young women in strappy party dresses watch the televised count point to a stunning Coalition win, supporters like Ashley Cordner don't need the final results to happily declare John Howard a better Prime Minister than the party's grandsire, Sir Robert Menzies. "I think history will be critical of those...