Finally! My first full day on the campaign trail - following Australia's still-fresh Prime Minister, Ms Julia E Gillard. My start was somewhat belated - well, two days late - but hours feel like days in the fast-moving world of election campaigns. Days feel like weeks. You get the picture.

So far the PM has gone from Canberra to Brisbane, then onto Townsville, and here we are in my fantastic home town of Sydney - visiting some of the key marginal seats in Sydney's west which will help decide this election.

Today's first destination was the seat of Macquarie, so after a frosty 5:30am start reporting for Sunrise from Observatory Hill, it was all aboard the campaign bus and onto Richmond High School. Appropriate really - I can't escape the feeling I'm on a school camp.

There's something ironic about covering one of the nation's most important events, yet still being placated with muesli bars and lollies on the bus (not that I'm complaining) and sent text messages saying 'please return to the bus - bus will leave in one minute'.

In fact, travelling journalists are already becoming frustrated at how tightly controlled these appearances are. Some questioned the point of being there this morning, after being told only nine of us would be allowed to accompany Ms Gillard on her tour of a new trades training centre. The organisers "only had nine hard hats". For a couple of dozen reporters and crew. The veterans among us tell me things ain't what they used to be.

Today's announcement involved a new 'National Trade Cadetship Program', aimed at giving kids a headstart on an apprenticeship while they're still at school. But much of the focus was on this Sunday's leader's debate which has been moved to 6:30pm - lest it interfere with the Masterchef finale.

Equipped with a huge suitcase full of all the TV essentials (lots of tops - bottoms don't matter so much, hairdryer, make-up, chocolate) and a scary looking pile of papers covered in figures, tables and tallies (which I may or may not have time to comprehensively read) I feel prepared and pumped, for what will be an exhausting and exhilarating five weeks.

What are you looking forward to in the election campaign? Have your say below.