scenario 1: a very narrow Coalition win, and scenario 2: a very narrow Labor victory.
Read what these journalists might say in each instance.
"This is the crucial point, Barrie: Howard has a magnificent, instinctive affinity with the common man. He always has."
"This is the crucial point, Barrie: Howard's message of voting for security in uncertain times failed to resonate with the voters. His political antennae let him down. His so-called affinity with the common man has always been overstated."
"John Howard fought back, hard, and in doing so secured a historic third term. If doubt existed before, none can now: Howard is simply the most talented politician of his generation"
"Kim Beazley crashed through but he didn't crash. His is the face of Australia for the first decade of the millennium. Voters have resoundingly declared John Howard yesterday's man."
"Labor was not ready to govern and was simply outclassed by the Government. Labor has forgotten how to campaign, the Coalition has not."
"The Coalition was simply out-classed, and it showed. Not only did they forget how to govern, they forgot how to campaign. Say what you like about Labor, it never forgets this.
"The wily politician has been under-estimated yet again. Once more the elites mis-read the man they love to hate. Labor was never going to win, but let us not forget the magnificent hugely underestimated contribution of Peter Costello, who put in an absolute blinder."
"John Howard ran a frightful campaign; he looked uncertain, fearful of the future, mean and tricky. By contrast Beazley had the goods. Labor simply ran a superior campaign. The real disappointment, though, was Peter Costello, who put in a sloppy, lazy effort.
"This was never in any doubt. Kim Beazley has destroyed the ALP. They will now spend 6, if not 9, years in the wilderness"
"The voters couldn't stomach Howard and Costello for another three years. But Beazley just fell over the line. With Crean looking over his shoulder, I can't see Beazley lasting out the year."
"When the chips were down, the Australian people voted for security over an untried, untested opposition. This has been a textbook perfect campaign by the Coalition."
"When the chips were down, the Australian people voted for the future. This was a textbook perfect campaign by the Labor."
"Australians just won't vote for a party that is patently not ready to govern. It's as simple as that"
"Our compulsory preferential voting system is rotten to the core. It's as simple as that"
"In a time of crisis, the voters opted for the devil they knew. It has always been thus."
"Voters showed they are not afraid of the future. Australians embrace change, it has always been thus. "
"I anticipated an outcome much like this."
" I anticipated an outcome much like this."
"Privately, Labor strategists were saying in the last week they feared this very outcome."
"Privately, Labor strategists were saying in the last week they hoped for this very outcome."
"Australia will continue to have the right to repel from our shores those we deem undesirable. Despite their best efforts, the "progressives" failed once again to get their agenda."
"By fitting Howard up as racist, their old play, the ABC has managed to knock off two of its enemies (the other being, of course, Jonathan Shier) in a month. Prepare now for the rewriting of history. Hoaxes like the so-called "stolen generations" (who were in the main part rescued), will now become common currency."
"This was the best result for Australia. It is now time for Peter Costello to take charge and continue much-needed reforms."
"Prepare for Whitlamism, minus the excitement and humour"
"Australians have made a point and made it clearly: now is not the time to pause on much needed economic reform."
"Australians have made a point and made it clearly: now is the time to consolidate and move on. But it would be a mistake to pause on much-needed economic reform.