(09/22/07) -

Rudd Better than Howard, Say Australians

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Australia hold positive views on the way opposition leader Kevin Rudd of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) does his job, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 65 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Rudd’s performance, down one point in two weeks.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Australia hold positive views on the way opposition leader Kevin Rudd of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) does his job, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 65 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Rudd’s performance, down one point in two weeks.

Conversely, 45 per cent of respondents express satisfaction with the way Australian head of government John Howard is doing his job. In the preferred prime minister category, Rudd holds a 10-point advantage over Howard.

In the October 2004 election, Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as the Coalition of Liberals and Nationals secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The ALP—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers. In December 2006, foreign affairs spokesman Rudd became the new leader of the ALP, defeating Kim Beazley in an internal caucus ballot.

On Sept. 20, ALP lawmakers accused the government of hiring private investigators to find facts about Rudd’s life that could potentially harm his bid to become prime minister. Howard denied the allegations, saying, "The leader of the opposition thinks he’s been smeared—he hasn’t been born. (…) I can beat the leader of the opposition without resorting to smears."

Australia is expected to hold a legislative election in October or November 2007.

Polling Data

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way John Howard is doing his job as prime minister?

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Kevin Rudd is doing his job as leader of the opposition?

Who do you think would make the better prime minister?