Abbott was in Mackay, where the LNP's George Christensen is trying to take the 2.6 per cent seat of Dawson from Labor's replacement candidate Mike Bruckner.

The Opposition Leader's campaign launch was for the Queensland LNP something-for-everybody Senate team of George Brandis, Barnaby Joyce, Brett Mason and Russell Trood.

Combet, who's apparently in high demand from ALP branches around the country, was last night at Michael's Oriental Restaurant at Eight Mile Plains to launch the campaign of Moreton Labor MP Graham Perrett (where the big auction item was a signed Kevin07 T-shirt).

Mackay was carefully picked as the launch of the Senate team because Dawson is regarded by the LNP as "the must win seat" in the vital battleground of Queensland.

It was spookily reminiscent of the 07 campaign when Kevin Rudd would swoop into towns and regions John Howard happened to be visiting - only this time it's in reverse with the Opposition Leader there first.

Abbott's three-day coastal Queensland visit could be a taste of greater activity in this state - where both sides of politics agree the election will be won or lost.

Campaigners are urging Abbott to crank up his travel north of the Tweed River, telling his office he should be touching down in Queensland at least twice a month.

There's an expectation both major party launches will be in Brisbane and the LNP was even suggesting the Coalition base its campaign headquarters in the Queensland capital. No decision has been made but it's understood the traditional Melbourne CBD location will be used (Labor is renting premises in inner-Sydney for its war-room).

But with the launch season now under way, it will soon be impossible to venture out in major population centres without running into senior Labor or Liberal-National figures. Enter a shopping centre at your peril.

• by Dennis Atkins 10 June 2010