Scare campaigns blunted by stark reality | OPINION

Not only has he been dogged with a bad cold during the campaign’s pointy end, he has been pursued relentlessly by an opposition leader performing well above expectations.

Bill Shorten, despite a tendency for his campaign appearances to seem overly-scripted and wooden, has had few off days this election.

One of the most surprising aspects of Mr Shorten’s performance is the effectiveness of his Medicare privatisation scare campaign, which has even involved former Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

But the reality is that there are no plans by the Turnbull Government to privatise Medicare, nor could there be. Who would buy a government program that does nothing but pay for the health care of those who can’t afford it?

It demonstrates the effectiveness of Mr Shorten’s ability to launch a negative, but the risk for Labor is that a scare campaign will alienate swinging voters who aren’t convinced.

On the other side, Mr Turnbull’s scare campaign is about the risk of Labor once again teaming up with the Greens to form a minority government.

Their ads include footage of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Greens leader Bob Brown signing off on a power-sharing arrangement.

Unfortunately for Mr Turnbull, this is not the most damaging or effective negative that could be prosecuted against Mr Shorten.

Who recalls Labor’s time in office, which was dominated by internecine power-plays and backroom tear-downs of one PM or the other? Answer: everyone.

Labor’s last shot at government was a debacle, and there is a risk they’ll get away without it even being mentioned.

Because, of course, Mr Turnbull can’t mention it.

Afterall, he tore down his own sitting Prime Minister.

And you know what they say about people in glass houses.