[link|http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/11/1097406503659.html?oneclick=true|Blame it on Jakarta]

Excerpt:

The Opposition Leader, Mark Latham, lost vital momentum for the election when campaigning was suspended following the bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta, confidential Labor Party polling reveals.

The polling, in 30 of Australia's most marginal seats, showed that after the bombing on September 9, Labor's primary vote fell to 37 per cent from 40, while the Coalition's primary vote rose to 48 per cent from 46.

Mr Latham's positive rating dropped five points and his negative rating rose two points.

By contrast, the positive rating for the Prime Minister, John Howard, increased three points and his negative rating fell by the same amount.

The Coalition lead on which party was better able to handle defence and terrorism jumped to 27 per cent from 23, while Mr Howard opened up a 6 percentage point lead over Mr Latham on which leader "deserves to win".

The polling showed concerns about defence and terrorism surged to 27 per cent from 10.

It also revealed that expectations of a Coalition victory in the election surged to 71 per cent from 54.

I say:

How come only one side lost "vital momentum" and the other gained it?