The election campaign has kicked off with gusto. But far from rolling, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat opted for a radio interview, in which he laid out the rest of the PL’s four year plan. He also tore into George Pullicino, a former minister and a whole war of words ensued between the two, as reported by this newspaper in yesterday’s edition.

The PM then followed up with a rally in Vittoriosa which could be largely summed up as a Labour event remembering past figures and the achievements of the party. One couldn’t say it was somber, but it was hardly fever pitch electioneering. No, the PM focused on the national issues and reminded people that he had promises and will deliver.

In the meantime, the PL has been quite silent in its intentions and events throughout the campaign, much unlike the PN which has published everything. The PL peaked at exactly the right moment in the last general election. Joseph Muscat was at his emphatic best in the last week of that campaign. The result was a foregone conclusion anyway, but the performance was present for all to see.

None of that, this time around. The PN on the other hand has gone into charm offensive. It is trying to show that it is a party that has changed and is more liberal than it was a year ago. There is no doubt that it is getting there, but still has a long way to go. Everyone is well on the campaign trail and the leadership is out and about doing its thing on a daily thing. Today, for example, a whole day of Gozo touring has been scheduled.

So, who has got it right? The PN was a master at timing in election campaigns. The tempo would start fast and hard, but it would ease off within a week. Then it would go about its business quietly for another week before cranking up a notch. The final week normally resulted in a crescendo of manifestations and the production of a political ace it always kept up its sleeve.

The PN has started hard and fast, but will it ease off? Labour, on the other hand, has a track record of peaking too early. Barring the last election, it always seemed to just run out of steam at the last minute when the PN was in its zone.

This time, though, the PL seems to be taking it easy for the time being. Activities almost seem to be off the cuff. But make no mistake, the content is strong and related to what Labour is doing in government, rather than what Labour MEPs will do in the European Parliament. No doubt, the ante will be upped soon. There is a month left to go and while it will not be reflected in the final vote (the PN has a long way to go to recoup what it has lost) the faction which is winning in terms of political performance will change throughout the course. It will be an interesting one. After all, it’s the first poll where Labour is campaigning from the seat of government and it’s the first poll where Simon Busuttil is at the helm of the PN. We shall have to wait and see, but there will be many twists and turns along the way.