Kevin Rudd becomes Opposition Leader in Oz
Neu Leonstein
04-12-2006, 06:38
Beazley's had a rough day. His brother died and he was voted out of the party leadership of the ALP.
So now that Kevin Rudd (http://www.kevinrudd.com/)'s become Labor leader and presumably the candidate for the next election...do you think he's got a shot?
He's certainly a smart cookie, you can tell he knows what he's talking about. But he comes across very aloof and not particularly "in touch" with the common man. I have no idea whether people consider him PM-Material.
And just because everyone's posting polls today, I'll add one too.
I think he has a damn good chance. All he has to do is keep quiet and let Howard destroy himself, maybe with the occasional witty remark.
He's the lesser of two evils when it comes to the ALP, but they're still too conservative for my liking.
Svalbardania
04-12-2006, 09:20
I think he has a damn good chance. All he has to do is keep quiet and let Howard destroy himself, maybe with the occasional witty remark.
He's the lesser of two evils when it comes to the ALP, but they're still too conservative for my liking.
Good point. However, I think he may lose a lot of the primary vote because he's too pompous and rich-looking. Then, on the other hand, he has Julia Gillard at his right hand, who is a very appealing politician to the masses.
Heck, all they have to do for the next election is to promise that if they win she'll do a nude photo shoot, it'll be a landslide :p
Boonytopia
04-12-2006, 09:22
If Labour can maintain the anger about the new IR laws, then possibly. The Libs would still be hot favourites at the next election though.
The Potato Factory
04-12-2006, 09:23
Who the hell voted for "Yes, he's got a good chance"? Come on. It's LABOUR! They stink!
It's not an impossibility, but it's somewhat unlikely. He certainly has a better chance than Beazley, however. If Howard retires and is replaced by Costello, then his chances might be pretty good.
Rudd is a smart man, but he's also extremely cunning. I hardly think it was coincidence that he decided to sit out the last leadership challenge and give it to Latham; and then sat back and waited for Beazley to lose popularity. The Labor party members that didn't vote for Rudd simply don't trust him. I'm not too sure on him either. We don't know a whole lot about Rudd's personal ideology or ambitions as a potential P.M., either; I suspect his religious leanings will make him quite conservative. He could be a wolf in sheep's clothing.