FINANCES MORE A WORRY THAN TERRORISM

If it's true, as lefties tirelessly claim, that the Prime Minister exaggerates the terrorist threat for political gain, Howard's using the wrong strategy:

A national survey suggests the impact of terrorism on Australians' sense of security and well-being has been almost negligible.

The study, undertaken by the Curtin University in Western Australia, has analysed answers given by households across the nation immediately before, and after, the September 11 attacks and the Bali bombings.

The study says the respondents' perception of their own personal safety didn't change after the World Trade Centre was hit 2001, and was only slightly altered following the bombings in Bali a year later.

People are still more concerned about things like financial security.

Thus is Howard's popularity explained.