NICOLA SMITH: Battle of the Federal election props in campaign of babies, dogs, petrol pumps and hi-vis

If the Federal election campaign was a silent movie, the visual props would already be charting a clear story in Labor and the Coalition’s five-week plot.

Prime Minister Albanese has grabbed every baby within kissing range and ruffled the fur of every friendly dog. His prized Medicare card has burned a hole in his right pocket, after being whipped out and waved at every bulk-billing opportunity.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton likes cars. And bowsers. There’s nothing he likes better than to connect cars to bowsers with soon-to-be discounted fuel. Twenty-five cents off every litre, in case we had forgotten.

Two weeks into his bid for re-election, Mr Albanese has opted firmly for a feel-good, soft lens focus, while Mr Dutton has taken on a harder, more industrial edge.

The Prime Minister, and his Medicare card, have filled their days with visits to urgent care clinics. Not quite all 87 delivered in three years of Labor government, but surely somewhere close.

Mr Albanese, and his Medicare card, have switched from praising hard-working medics to throwing excited children in the air in public schools, talking up Labor’s bulk-billing investments, cheaper childcare and funding for education.

He has adopted a more personal touch — chatting cost-of-living relief with startled customers in cafes, dining on shortbread and grandmother’s struffoli in family homes, and remained jovial while falling off a stage but — thankfully — not a boat, in choppy seas near the Great Barrier Reef.

He has appeared relaxed, at times even jolly, lapsing into a brief snark at a local journalist asking about a tie-up with the Greens, before reverting back to smiles.

Mr Albanese, and his Medicare card, seemed never more in their element than when swaddling 27-hour-old baby Amber to make her “as snug as a bug in a rug” in St John of God Hospital in Perth.

Mr Dutton, on the other hand, surely by now has his own personalised hi vis vest. If not, it’s time to invest.

In between dropping by every petrol station in the land — well, seven so far — the Opposition Leader has donned a range of white, orange and blue hard hats to work his factory theme with serious intent.

There’s no better backdrop than steel pipes and machinery to spruik the Coalition’s cornerstone east coast gas reservation policy to reduce household power bills.

And car dealerships — did we mention he likes cars? — have also been a campaign trail staple to promote his pledge to scrap a new scheme to cut fuel emissions and encourage the take up of electric vehicles.

National security has been another favoured subject of Mr Dutton’s campaign journey. And while he’s not yet fast-roped off a Black Hawk to cement his credentials to secure the borders, we can’t be far off?

If the nation’s top politicians wanted to change perceptions of their leadership style ahead of the May poll, they have so far not succeeded.

If they wanted to lean into their strengths and revert to type to get off to a solid start, who can blame them?

But as week three approaches, with every seat to play for and a huge swing vote, it’s time to switch things up to reach out to the great unconvinced.

With a threat of a hung parliament still on the horizon, soft voters may want to hear more from Mr Albanese at the bowser, and see more of Mr Dutton in a clinic.

By Friday, the first green shoots of change were starting to emerge.

Mr Dutton loosened his collar and relaxed with a peppermint ice cream in Tangney, while Mr Albanese grabbed his neon vest at Rio Tinto’s Dampier Port in Karratha.

And if the two leaders are getting ready to stray out of their comfort zones, the razzmatazz of Sunday’s much-awaited campaign launches would be as good as any time to start.