Opposition leader Kevin Rudd has once again pre-empted his opponent’s political strategies by today announcing his 68th birthday — one day ahead of a similar announcement expected by Prime Minister John Howard. This move by Mr Rudd is in line with his recent attempts to make the opposition appear as similar to the coalition as possible.

“I would like to announce that today I am celebrating my 68th birthday,” Mr Rudd said at an early morning press conference. “And my message to myself on this day is this: hip, hip, hooray!”

In recent weeks Kevin Rudd has aligned Labor policy with that of the coalition government on issues such as indigenous intervention, terror policing and forestry in Tasmania. Political commentators see today’s birthday announcement as Rudd’s latest attempt to turn himself into a weak clone of John Howard.

Asked by a reporter at this morning’s press conference if his latest announcement was taking the Howard-shadowing a little bit too far, Mr Rudd said: “Don’t throw the fair go out the back door. This election campaign has come to a fork in the road and my message to you is this: for I’m a jolly good fellow, and so say all of us.”