A Feel for His Audience

The clobber alone demands a double take. In blue sports coat and strides, white slip-ons sans socks, and with a splash of bling around his tanned neck, he looks less like Australia's third longest-serving Prime Minister than a 1970s bookie. Then again, with his lean frame and flowing mane, Bob Hawke also looks terrific for a bloke who'll turn 78 a fortnight after the Nov. 24 election. Rich nowadays and in want of nothing material, what he'd like most for his birthday is a change of government. On this warm weekday afternoon, at a mall in Sydney's eastern suburbs,...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!