Hawke came in as a fresh face and a breath of fresh air to the labor party.
Rudd did this in 2007, but he is no longer a fresh face. He was losing popularity and most people know he was the force behind some of labor's failed schemes. And, like Gillard, he does not seem to represent the labor party as we used to know it.
He is pro carbon pricing, he was the one who dismantled the very effective Pacific Solution and lost control of our borders, he was the one who spent money like no tomorrow for the GFC.
Basically, he is just more of the same with Gillard. He might attract a few sympathy votes, but I suspect that's all he will be able to do.
Labor have lost some good labor MPs to the back bench such as Ferguson (who is now retiring). Ferguson as leader months ago could have probably saved labor, imo.
