FED:Election on a knife-edge: Newspoll

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2010
FED:Election on a knife-edge: Newspoll

MELBOURNE, Aug 1 AAP - Labor has lost its substantial two-party preferred lead against
the coalition in just two weeks, the latest Newspoll has found.

The poll, taken between Friday and Sunday, found Labor and the coalition are split
50-50, The Australian reports.

Only two weeks ago, Newspoll had Labor under Prime Minister Julia Gillard on a 55-45
lead over the coalition following her ascension to the top job.

The latest poll result comes after a bad week for Labor in the federal election campaign,
with Ms Gillard distracted by a series of damaging cabinet leaks.

Ms Gillard still leads Opposition Leader Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister, with
50 per cent report, unchanged from the last Newspoll a week ago, to Mr Abbott's 35 per
cent, also unchanged.

But in the past two weeks, Ms Gillard has lost seven points as preferred prime minister,
while Mr Abbott's rating has risen eight points.

AAP jrd/apm

KEYWORD: POLL10 NEWSPOLL

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