It is a good thing that Rudd's popular rating has come down....

It is a good thing that Rudd's popular rating has come down. What is a surprise is that it had remained at such an unsustainable high for so long.

Rudd no doubt has taken note of his current lower rating in the hearts of those surveyed, but would also have taken note that he is still the preferred prime minister by a large margin over the current Liberal leader, Tony Abbott.

I don't think much of this personal popularity rating thing. I remember well Keating, when as prime minister, was the preferred prime minister over John Howard by a big margin too but then he went on to lose the election to Howard.

It is the parties' relative performance that matters. On current form, the coalition has no credible alternate policies, the opposition leader seems to be someone who changes his mind often over short period of time. These are the things that can change votes.