 On 28 March 2002 he was elected as deputy opposition leader under John Brogden until the 2003 state election.Former Premier Bob Carr was often Hartcher's political "sparring partner", a relationship Carr referred to as "good natured fun".Carr nicknamed Hartcher the "Swamp Fox" – an irreverent reference to US War of Independence guerrilla commander, Francis Marion – to suggest Hartcher would challenge Brogden for leadership of the party.