Coalition ahead of Labor: poll

[struggle4progress]

Voter support for Prime Minister John Howard and the government has rebounded, a new poll has found.
<snip>

It's the first time the Coalition has been in front since Mark Latham took the ALP leadership on December 2 last year and a big 4-point turnaround from its 39 per cent standing last month against Labor's 43 per cent, the paper said.

The national poll of 1419 voters, conducted on Friday and Saturday, showed Labor clinging to a narrow two-party preferred advantage.

Mr Howard widened his lead as preferred prime minister, up three points to 50 per cent over Mr Latham, who was down two points to 41 per cent, compared with the last poll in late May.
<snip>

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/21/1087669870449.html?oneclick=true


Latham angry at poll inquiry clash

<snip>
The Federal Government has called an inquiry into a deal under which the Australian National Audit Office leases office space from the Labor Party in Canberra at higher than normal rent.

Mr Latham said it would be extraordinary if the inquiry, expected to last about three months, overlapped with the federal election, which could be called at any time.
<snip>

Mr Latham today defended the Centenary House lease deal, which was the subject of a royal commission in 1994.

"I say it's fair because there was a royal commission that found that there was no problem with the lease," he said.
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http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9908284%5E2,00.html


Are US taxpayer dollars being used to fiddle with the Aussie elections? The fresh judicial inquiry, into a matter previously resolved, just in time for the campaign, is certainly Rove's style.

[Cha]

1. I don't know when the Australian election is...

but hopefully after bush loses then the Aussies will follow suit with electing Mark Latham.

"But Labor had a "modest boost" by securing former rocker Peter Garrett as a candidate, with his recruitment scoring a 59 per cent approval rating, according to the latest ACNielsen poll"

Rock On, Peter Garrett! :yourock:

[Matilda]

3. We don't have fixed term elections here.

Howard can call an election any time until March 2005, so
he can move on it as soon as his ratings go up. The lead time
is minimum time of one month after the election is announced, so
the chance of a big turnaround in popularity is minimised.

We can only hope that the polls are wrong, as they so often are.

[Matilda]

2. When it comes to dirty politics

I don't think Howard needs instruction from Rove, or anyone else.

It does show how desperate he really must be feeling - this is old
news, and although it's haunted Labor for years now, it certainly
can't be blamed on Latham.

But there's no accoutning for the stupidity of the average Aussie
voter - here we have all this info coming in to prove that Howard
has repeatedly lied to the Parliament and the people about the
reasons for going to war, and has coerced the intelligence services
into providing doctored information, both of which are serious
offences, and what happens? The sheeple think "tax cuts" and up
goes his popularity.

I think I'll move to N.Z. after the election.

[struggle4progress]

5. Well, you may be right ...

but the whole war was coordinated to US politics, so I'm assuming whoever cues Bush is at least indirectly cuing Blair and Howard; moreover, there was a flurry last week of US pressure on Latham, followed by a move that looks like vintage Rove to me.

You remark: "here we have all this info coming in to prove that Howard
has repeatedly lied to the Parliament and the people about the
reasons for going to war, and has coerced the intelligence services
into providing doctored information, both of which are serious
offences..." Meanwhile, it looks like EXACTLY the same thing has happened in the US and UK: it could be a coincidence, but I'd bet they're all reading from the same playbook, and somebody somewhere had to write it.

[Matilda]

7. Oh, yes, Howard's following the U.S. line, no doubt of that.

But he's as cunning as the proverbial shithouse rat, and wouldn't
need any prompting to play dirty pool. He's a kindred spirit to
Bushco, and we all knew it'd get very ugly, the more so since
Latham is a real threat.

But I'm not writing Latham off yet - he's got the killer instinct
alright, and he'll give Howard a run for his money.

[struggle4progress]

10. From an ocean away, I'd pick Latham. Hope he knocks Howard flat!

[The Zanti Regent]

4. Kissinger overthrew Gough Whitlam in the mid 70s

Just as Kissy destroyed UK Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe.

The US fingerprints are all over this!

[struggle4progress]

6. Ruthless personal attacks begin to find their mark

<snip>
Howard has clawed back Latham's previous 6 point personal approval advantage to just one percentage point and he has extended his lead as preferred prime minister from 4 to 9 points.

The gains for the Coalition and Howard have come after a vicious campaign against Latham which included President George Bush and senior members of his Administration attacking Labor's Iraq policy as "disastrous" and comforting to the enemy.

The Government's campaign sought to undermine Latham personally by calling into question his experience and his ability to manage the economy and alliance with America.

John Howard accused Mark Latham of damaging the US alliance, pursuing policies which would encourage terrorists close to home, and of being unfit to hold office.
<snip>
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/20/1087669846536.html?from=top5

[Matilda]

8. Have you noticed how conservatives everywhere prefer to attack

the person, rather than debate the issues?

Could it be that they're actually bereft of real policy?

[struggle4progress]

9. The rabid style has become more popular in recent years.