In the past, business as normal has meant choosing a favourite son to deliver a state or region.

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Mr Rudd's home state of Queensland, where he is still a favourite son, will be crucial in the election.

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Nevertheless, Lennon is widely regarded as a favourite Celtic son and will be afforded an ocean of goodwill by supporters desperate to wrest the league title back from their Old Firm rivals.

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III, scion of a favourite Minnesotan son.

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Today, he comes across as a mother's favourite son-in-law.

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But if Mr Brown is the favourite son, Mr Blair, despite being younger, enjoys a more avuncular role, exploiting his slight distance from the party to tease it, lecture it, and tell it one or two home truths.

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