jim chalmers alp attack on kevin rudd

Labor Candidate Jim Chalmers doesn't deny writing Wayne Swan's Blistering Criticism of Kevin Rudd.

ALP's Rankin Jim Chalmers Has Some Snake Attributes





Wayne Swan's former chief of staff and now Labor candidate Jim Chalmers has not denied writing a damning statement which described Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as having no Labor values.

The blistering statement was issued by Mr Swan before Mr Rudd returned to the Labor leadership.

It described Mr Rudd as wasting "all the opportunities in the world with his dysfunctional decision making" and and said he had a "deeply demeaning attitude" towards Caucus.

Mr Chalmers, who is now running for Craig Emerson's seat of Rankin south of Brisbane, has told the ABC he regards himself as a "tremendous supporter of Kevin Rudd's".

Asked whether the statement should colour his candidacy, Mr Chalmers replied " Not at all."

He says "the words that politicians put out are their own" and the statement belongs to the former treasurer.

"I'm a big supporter of Kevin Rudd," he said, adding he has since written a book praising the economic stimulus policies introduced by the Prime Minister in response to the global financial crisis.

The statement also accused the Prime Minister of trying to tear down Julia Gillard's 2010 campaign and undermining her government "at every turn".

Mr Chalmers says he was proud to work with Mr Rudd, Mr Swan and Ms Gillard.

Former Labor MP Brett Raguse lost a pre-selection battle with Mr Chalmers for the seat of Rankin.

He told the ABC that Mr Chalmer's involvement with Mr Swan's statement was "probably a bit naive" given his political ambitions and solidarity being crucial to election campaigns.



Chalmers is facing a tough battle to hold Rankin up against much liked Local LNP Candidate David Lin






.