ID :
169667
Mon, 03/21/2011 - 12:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/169667
The shortlink copeid
Keneally's father joins campaign trail
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally took her dad to work as she pounded the campaign trial on Monday, five days out from the election.
John Kerscher has travelled from the US to Sydney, to help around the premier's house while his daughter tries to cushion Labor's likely loss in Saturday's poll.
Standing 193cm tall, the former mechanical engineer from Ohio experienced first-hand what his daughter's working day is like.
In the morning, Ms Keneally made her first stop of the day at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where thousands of senior citizens were attending a free concert as part of NSW Seniors Week.
Mr Kerscher, 68, shook hands with some and watched as others complimented his 42-year-old daughter.
"You look beautiful," one woman said to Ms Keneally.
"I need a peck," an elderly man told the premier, who obliged him with a kiss on the cheek.
But the atmosphere became less cozy after Ms Keneally and Treasurer Eric Roozendaal announced the impact of Labor's election promises so far on the state budget.
While the projections were broadly better than those of the independent body charged with assessing the cost of campaign commitments, the media pack became aggressive.
Ms Keneally and Mr Roozendaal were accused of being sneaky with Labor's costings, given they differed from those of the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Mr Kerscher - who is registered with the US Republican Party, the country's main conservative political group - sat back and watched his daughter tough out a 45-minute press conference, giving as good as she got.
Later, father and daughter petted a koala at Taronga Zoo, where Ms Keneally announced $16 million of funding to protect koala habitats.
Ms Keneally told AAP it meant a lot to have her father in Sydney.
Mr Kerscher said he never envisioned Australia would be the place where his US-born daughter would make her mark.
"I've always known what she's been capable of," he said.
"But you never think that your daughter is going to achieve something on the other side of the world at this level."
John Kerscher has travelled from the US to Sydney, to help around the premier's house while his daughter tries to cushion Labor's likely loss in Saturday's poll.
Standing 193cm tall, the former mechanical engineer from Ohio experienced first-hand what his daughter's working day is like.
In the morning, Ms Keneally made her first stop of the day at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where thousands of senior citizens were attending a free concert as part of NSW Seniors Week.
Mr Kerscher, 68, shook hands with some and watched as others complimented his 42-year-old daughter.
"You look beautiful," one woman said to Ms Keneally.
"I need a peck," an elderly man told the premier, who obliged him with a kiss on the cheek.
But the atmosphere became less cozy after Ms Keneally and Treasurer Eric Roozendaal announced the impact of Labor's election promises so far on the state budget.
While the projections were broadly better than those of the independent body charged with assessing the cost of campaign commitments, the media pack became aggressive.
Ms Keneally and Mr Roozendaal were accused of being sneaky with Labor's costings, given they differed from those of the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Mr Kerscher - who is registered with the US Republican Party, the country's main conservative political group - sat back and watched his daughter tough out a 45-minute press conference, giving as good as she got.
Later, father and daughter petted a koala at Taronga Zoo, where Ms Keneally announced $16 million of funding to protect koala habitats.
Ms Keneally told AAP it meant a lot to have her father in Sydney.
Mr Kerscher said he never envisioned Australia would be the place where his US-born daughter would make her mark.
"I've always known what she's been capable of," he said.
"But you never think that your daughter is going to achieve something on the other side of the world at this level."
