Australian leader John Howard is facing the risk of losing his own seat in the upcoming election, which would make him the first prime minister to do so in 78 years. Changes in electoral boundaries have made his Sydney seat of Bennelong more vulnerable, with a small swing of around 4 percent enough to unseat him. The increasing number of Asian migrants, particularly Chinese and Koreans, in the area is also seen as a challenge for Howard as he seeks reelection for a fifth term. Some voters believe that Howard's previous use of the "race card" in elections, particularly regarding his stance on boatpeople, is not the type of leadership they want. In contrast to previous elections, the opposition Labor party has selected a well-known candidate, Maxine McKew, a former television and news magazine journalist, to run against Howard in the constituency he has represented since 1974. Despite McKew's recent move to the area, she is currently ahead of Howard in both opinion polls and with betting agencies. Howard, aware of the threat to his political career in his own constituency, has been actively engaging with voters by spending more time in Bennelong, attending community events, and meeting with residents. Last Saturday's Granny Smith Apple Festival, usually a quiet community event, became a lively election rally with the presence of both Howard and McKew. Carrying signs and balloons, numerous followers of both candidates engaged in a loud confrontation. John Booth, editor of the local newspaper The Weekly Times, noted that this was Howard's first appearance at the festival in 21 years. Booth believes that Howard is aware of the tough competition he is facing and predicts that he will lose his seat. According to Booth, even people who voted for Howard in the past are now calling for a change. Bennelong, named after a prominent Aboriginal figure in Australian history, encompasses some of Sydney's affluent northern suburbs. Initially a conservative, middle-class electorate, the area has evolved over time to include more working-class Labor suburbs to the west. Similar to national campaigns, key issues in Bennelong include economic management, the Iraq war, climate change, and new workplace laws. However, the electorate stands out due to its significant Asian-Australian population, with 12,000 Chinese and 5,000 Koreans. Immigration and Australia-Asia relations are crucial topics in Bennelong, where half of the residents have either been born overseas or have immigrant parents. Koh stated that Asian voters in Bennelong have not forgotten Howard's anti-immigration comments in 1988 and his government's efforts to appeal to supporters of Pauline Hanson in the 2001 election. According to Koh, Howard has a history of using divisive tactics which has made many people suspicious. On the other hand, Booth mentioned that Labor has emphasized its Asian connections by showcasing a former state politician and his Asian wife, as well as leader Kevin Rudd who is fluent in Mandarin. Rudd's ability to converse with Chinese President Hu Jintao at a recent summit in Sydney has gained him support among Asian communities. Koh also noted that the Korean and Chinese vote could play a significant role in determining the outcome between Howard and Maxine McKew in the election.