Kevin Rudd slipping in polls and accused of cheating as campaign week two begins (Australia)

news.com.au ^ | 12th August 2013

[naturalman1975]

THE second week of the federal campaign is under way, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd facing accusations that he cheated in last night's debate by referring to notes.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott goes into the second week of the campaign in a promising position, with most commentators declaring him the stronger performer in the debate and the latest Newspoll, published in The Australian today, showing he has narrowed Mr Rudd's lead as preferred Prime Minister from 14 points to nine points.

[naturalman1975]

Note - the reference to the polling on 'Preferred Prime Minister' doesn't mean all that much - although it is nice to see Abbott rising and Rudd falling. The 'Preferred Prime Minister' really just refer to who voters regard as more 'likeable', and has little impact on who they actually vote for.

On the most recent overall poll results, the conservative coalition leads 52-48, which would translated to a majority of 16-19 seats in the 150 seat House of Representatives - a comfortable victory, although not quite a landslide.

[GeronL]

Notes are cheating?

[naturalman1975]

The debate rules agreed to by both sides say they are not allowed, so, yes, I think that case can be made.

[GeronL]

Well, if its in the rules and they agreed to it, then I guess that would be cheating.

[RightGeek]

Notes were not allowed according to the rules of the debate and the fat little nosepicker had a handful of paper.

[GeronL]

Well, I certainly hope the best for Australia

[cripplecreek]

I wondered what he meant when Daniel Hannan called him a dishonest cheater on twitter this morning.

[mazda77]

I suppose he doesn’t know how to cheat fair.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

What a fool. If he was an experienced cheater like our King Mugabe-bama he would just have the moderator cheat for him.