The spotlight will be on the federal seats of Sturt and Boothby from now until election day, whenever that may be, writes Mike Smithson.

The subtle political knives are already sharpened and thrusting in the state’s most marginal federal seat.

Sturt is an active battleground for both major parties even before Anthony Albanese has made his visit to the Governor-General for the writs to be issued and an election date announced.

It, along with Labor held Boothby, are about the only points of interest in SA ahead of polling day, with the other eight electorates unlikely to change colour.

Expect to see plenty of Peter Malinauskas and other Labor luminaries on the Sturt campaign trail over the coming weeks.

The flak is already flying in what newly anointed Labor candidate Claire Clutterham hopes will be a clean and fair contest.

The Premier was front and centre at her campaign launch last weekend and immediately took aim at Liberal incumbent James Stevens.

Malinauskas referred to him as a deadweight representing his community, which are strong words indeed considering Stevens is the Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Waste Reduction.

Mali certainly wasn’t “wasting” his words in damning the area’s well-known political predecessor with faint praise.

“Whatever your views were about Christopher Pyne at least you knew he was out there every day fighting for his community,” the Premier said.

“Since Christopher........

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