Rudd would improve Labor chances: poll

Labor would attract almost seven per cent more votes on a two-party preferred basis if Kevin Rudd was prime minister, a poll says.

LABOR’S election chances would greatly improve if Kevin Rudd was reinstated as prime minister, a poll of key electorates suggests.

With Mr Rudd as leader, Labor would receive nearly seven per cent more votes on a two-party preferred basis, if results from the electorates were reflected across the country, the Fairfax Media/ReachTEL poll found.

Schools Education Minister Peter Garrett and Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare would lose their seats with Julia Gillard as prime minister, but if Mr Rudd were leading the party both would comfortably retain their seats, the poll found.

While they would retain their seats under Ms Gillard, the vote for Treasurer Wayne Swan and ministers Jenny Macklin and Bill Shorten would improve if Mr Rudd were leader.

Mr Shorten’s two party preferred vote in his electorate would be higher if Kevin Rudd was prime minister than if he was prime minister himself.

The poll also showed that 29 per cent of people believe Prime Minister Gillard is doing a very poor job, compared to the 18 per cent of people who believe she is doing a very good job.