Fed: Howard brushes off strong poll for Rudd

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2007
Fed: Howard brushes off strong poll for Rudd

JOHN HOWARD's brushed off a strong poll result for KEVIN RUDD .. saying he's never
kidded himself about winning a fifth term.

Labor frontbenchers are also playing down the figures .. showing Mr RUDD's overtaken
Mr HOWARD as preferred prime minister.

Shadow Treasurer WAYNE SWAN says the poll's encouraging .. but warns anything can happen
between now and the election.

The ACNielsen poll's also showing Mr RUDD's the most popular opposition leader of the
past 35 years.

The PM says nine weeks aren't an unusually long honeymoon for a new opposition leader
.. but adds he's under no illusions about how tough this year's election will be.

Mr HOWARD hasn't made any comment on why Mr RUDD's doing so well .. saying voters will
ultimately focus on Australia's prosperity.







The poll of 1 thousand 412 voters has been conducted from last Thursday to Saturday
.. at the end of the first parliamentary sitting week for the year.

AAP RTV rp/sb/nc/bart

KEYWORD: POLL (CANBERRA)

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