Mark Latham was never preferred PM

[gemini_liberal]

No doubt in the next week or so, you are going to see plenty of talking heads reminding us that Mark Latham did well in the polls and look what happened to him (hur hur!) However according to the Newspoll website's archives (http://www.newspoll.com.au) the closest Latham ever got to Preferred PM was 42% to Howard's 43% at the peak of Latham's popularity in March 2004 - a far cry from the amazing result of today's poll.

Also some other figures for you: the peak of Labor's primary vote support was 46% to the Coalition's 41% and the peak of the 2 party preferred was 55% to the Coalition's 45% (both also in March 2004.)

While I realise that all polls should be taken with a grain of salt and that this election is still going to be hard work and fuckface is gonna do whatever he can to steal it, it's still interesting to see that polling wise, this is not necessarily a case of deja vu...

[Matilda]

1. You can bet that Howard's aware of it.

He's very jittery, and given to saying some really silly things lately.

As for taking no notice of the polls, as he claims, he lives by the polls. He's totally poll-driven.

And it is significant for Rudd, because for all of Howard's tenure, Labor has drawn ahead of the
Coalition in primary voting a number of times, but Howard has always been preferred leader, and
that's why his hold on power has been so strong. The Libs know - or believe - that they can't win
without him.

But every dog has his day .... maybe now it's time for the drover's dog.

[Aussie leftie]

2. The hole that Howard is digging for himself is getting deeper everyday

I know its a long time between now and the next election, but isnt nice to see things going in Labor's favor for a change. Iraq, especially with the Brits "cutting and running", David Hicks, global warming, interest rates rising and Industrial Relations. It doesnt get much better.