A marvellous time to sell hope Jim Ball, inspired by the success of Ronald Reagan's justly famous ad, has some advice for the Coalition: The way I see it, the people need something clean, crisp, uplifting and inspirational after six years of the ongoing rolling chaos, shambles and dishonesty of Gillard and Rudd... Obviously Labor are going to go all out with a campaign of negativity against Tony Abbott and The Coalition and it would seem to me the best way to fight it (as well as the negative stuff) is with an overarching campaign of unbridled optimism, enthusiasm and sunny uplands in an endeavour to counter and neutralise it. It's all about making people feel good and optimistic about their lives. I know what Jim means. Last year it sometimes seemed too obvious a ploy when Tony Abbott brought his daughters out on the campaign trail. This week I saw this picture of Abbott with daughter Bridget, and instinctively felt: at last, a bit of no-dramas normality. Nice people, nice place, no screaming and abusing and threatening. Just normal. It felt so strange ... and so welcome: So I think Jim is onto something. Here is another of his suggestions: Bung in your own suggestions.