In May 1987, the expectations of Bjelke-Petersen's campaign were revised downwards to promoting Senate candidates like John Stone, who ran under the New Nationals banner, and the slogan "Joh for PM" was scrapped in favour of "Joh for Canberra", When prime minister Bob Hawke called a double dissolution election on 27 May 1987, Bjelke-Petersen was in the United States, visiting Disneyland, and had not yet nominated for a federal seat.