MELBOURNE, Aug 12: With federal elections in Australia due in September, latest polls have found Kevin Rudd still maintaining his lead as a preferred Prime Minister against opposition leader Tony Abbott who has however managed to narrow the gap.
The Newspoll, published today in ‘The Australian’, said Liberal party leader Abbott narrowed the gap as preferred Prime Minister since the election campaign began from 14 points to nine points.
The survey was conducted across the country over the weekend and over 1,130 people were interviewed.
Rudd-led Labor party’s primary vote went down two points to 35 per cent while the opposition coalition was up two points to 46 per cent.
The Greens also rose up two points to 11 per cent.
The coalition was seen ahead on 52 per cent to Labor’s 48 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
On the query of who would make the better Prime Minister, Rudd maintained a lead over Abbott with his support of 46 per cent, down from 47 per cent last week.
To the same query, Abbott’s stood at 37 per cent which was up four points.
The poll also found Rudd’s satisfaction rate at 39 per cent, up from 38 per cent last week, and dissatisfaction at 48 per cent, up one point from 47 per cent last week.
Abbott’s satisfaction rate rose four points to 38 per cent as dissatisfaction fell six points to 52 per cent.
According to the report, the poll also found that 54 per cent of voters expected the Coalition to win the election while 26 per cent thought Labor will win.
Rudd took over as Prime Minister for the second time in June after dramatically ousting bitter party rival Julia Gillard, and he has appealed for party unity with the ruling Labor staring at a likely drubbing in the general election on September 7. (PTI)
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