Kennett's performance during his first stint as Liberal leader is a matter of debate. Economou sees his 1985 and 1988 election campaigns as weak, while Parkinson believes he was a significant asset in pushing the Labor government of John Cain in several key seats. Kennett's reputation as a campaigner grew over time and by the mid 2000s was almost universally acknowledged to be perhaps a better campaigner than any of the many Liberal campaigners that had come before him. Many have described him as 'a complete campaigner'.