Insiders expose the Game of Thrones fight for Dutton’s job as he faces election doom. PVO reveals the REAL contenders, who doesn’t stand a chance – and the ‘alpha male’ shadow minister everyone keeps talking about

There’s now less than a fortnight to go before D-Day for Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese.

Many Australians will have already voted at pre-poll booths, and if the betting markets and published polls are anything to go by, the prime minister is set to be re-elected.

While anything can happen as we count down to election day, especially with two more televised leaders debates due this week, there doesn’t appear to be much momentum for change.

That’s despite clear evidence that a majority of voters think the country is heading in the wrong direction.

Daily Mail Australia’s exclusive Ipsos poll revealed that 51 per cent of voters believe Australia is on the wrong track with only 35 per cent thinking the opposite.

Interestingly, Daily Mail readers were more generous than the general population, with 43 per cent thinking the country is on the right track.

You would normally expect such results to suggest a change of government is on the table, but it’s not. That tells us that plenty of Australians still have reservations about the Coalition under Dutton.

Liberal strategists had hoped the combination of no longer having to worry about Scott Morrison’s personal unpopularity coupled with what can only be described as a poor first term from Labor just might be enough to see a one-term government turfed out of office.

With Anthony Albanese most likely to be be re-elected, the question now is whether Peter Dutton (pictured on the campaign trail with son Harry) can survive as Leader of the Opposition

Many Australians will have already voted at pre-poll booths, and if the betting markets and published polls are anything to go by, Albo (pictured) is set to return to the Lodge

That hasn’t happened since 1931.

However, unless a late surge of support goes Dutton’s way, the more likely scenario is Labor gets re-elected, probably reliant on the support of the Greens, teal independents – or both – to form minority government.

Ironically that’s just the sort of messy situation few believe will help get Australia back on track and heading in the right direction, but there you go.

As for Dutton, can he survive as opposition leader in the wake of defeat? Especially when the evidence suggests he personally will be a major reason the Coalition lost?

Dutton’s personal ratings are a long way behind Albo’s, and Albo is a comparatively unpopular PM compared to many in the past (not Morrison, obviously).

The answer is that Dutton should survive, if only as the last person standing. That’s because alternative leaders are thin on the ground.

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has a low profile and has been prone to poor media performances. That’s despite his obvious analytical abilities and understanding of economics.

Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley should be a viable alternative leader but her colleagues worry she’s too much of a loose cannon, and perhaps with good reason.

Shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie is a leader-in-waiting. It’s only a question of whether the time is now or later for the former military officer who makes no secret of his ambitions

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor (right) has obvious analytical abilities and understanding of economics, but has a low profile and has been prone to poor media performances

Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley should be a viable alternative leader but her colleagues worry she’s too much of a loose cannon (right)

Two of the more high-profile Liberals on the campaign trail are James Paterson (left) and Jane Hume (right), but both are senators and therefore out of contention for the leadership

Manager of Opposition Business in the House Michael Sukkar (pictured) could be a candidate, but he’ll be more focused on retaining his wafer-thin Melbourne marginal seat of Deakin

After that, two of the more high-profile Liberals on the campaign trail are James Paterson and Jane Hume, but both are senators and therefore out of contention for the leadership.

That only leaves Manager of Opposition Business in the House Michael Sukkar as a candidate, but he’ll be more focused on retaining his wafer-thin Melbourne marginal seat of Deakin than stealing Dutton’s job in the aftermath.

Shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie is a leader-in-waiting, but he represents a generational change and perhaps now is not yet his time.

However, like a true political alpha male, the former military officer who represents Canning in Western Australia has not attempted to conceal his ambitions, proudly and honestly proclaiming an interest to one day lead his party.

All of which adds up to Dutton surviving even in defeat.

Of course, how bad that defeat might be will play a role in his chances of survival. Candidates inevitably emerge if they have to.

Keep your friends close… 

Meanwhile, Albo dropped a clanger in Wednesday’s second leaders debate, declaring his firm trust in both Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He was trying to contrast his diplomatic credentials with Dutton’s rogue tendencies – but in doing so just came across as naive and weak in the process.

It’s hardly surprising at one level given he has essentially outsourced his foreign- facing role as PM to his good friend and factional colleague Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

If the PM honestly trusts Trump and Xi, as he claimed, especially in the context of tariff flip-flopping by Trump and Chinese warships being parked off the Australian coast, I have a bridge I’d like to sell Albo…

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