JOHN Howard was once called “the rodent”, but this election campaign has had two literal rats.

After Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stroked a man’s pet rat “Splinter” on Monday in Penrith, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek today came across a rat in a plastic box at Sydney’s fish markets.

Chas Licciardello from satirical group The Chaser was spotted at the scene.

Ms Plibersek appeared very taken with the creature, cuddling it and asking what its name might be.

Mr Shorten looked concerned as it snuggled up to his deputy, and was more reluctant to touch the animal, gingerly stroking it with a finger and saying, “I think it’s doing very well in Tanya’s hands.”

Chaser team have abandoned poor little guy...that's cruel guys. Tanya Plibersek is taking him home pic.twitter.com/ideMhAvBGc — Ursula Heger (@ursulaheger) June 1, 2016

Ms Plibersek then decided to take the rat home and promised to start a competition to christen it with the hashtag #nametherat. There have already been several suggestions, including Scott Morrison, Kevin or Bill, Christopher Pyne, Alan Jones and Kenny.

The hashtag #electionrat is also circulating.

One user tweeted: “Oh @tanya_plibersek, this is just asking for trouble. #nametherat #ausvotes.”

Ms Plibersek later tweeted: “He’s safe at home now with some nuts, zucchini, and banana to snack on.”

Mr Turnbull was more interested in the rat he met earlier in the week, asking owner Shane Mundt about the animal, despite Fiona Scott’s attempts to move him on.

In return he got an anecdote about the rat cleaning its owners teeth while he slept.