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John Howard's popularity continues to drop, poll says

Australian Prime Minister John Howard's government slipped further in an opinion poll released yesterday, fueling speculation he may put off an election until the middle of next month.

Howard, whose conservative coalition has been in power 11 years, has said he would hold an election before year end.

But he has reportedly delayed calling the vote on the advice of his frontbench who are concerned about a resurgent opposition center-left Labor Party.

The latest Newspoll shows Labor, led by Kevin Rudd, gaining one point to secure 56 percent of the two-party preferred vote, which strips out the minor parties.

The government had the support of 44 percent of the 1,132 people polled.

Rudd is also the preferred prime minister, although his share of the vote dropped one point to 47 percent, said the poll, published in the Australian newspaper.

Thirty-eight percent said that Howard would make the better prime minister.

The latest survey came after the government had clawed back some ground lost to Labor thanks to a strong performance in parliament and a couple of campaign missteps from Labor.

But the 12-point Labor lead meant Howard would likely delay holding the vote for as long as possible and was "almost guaranteeing the election will not be held until November 17," the Australian's political editor Dennis Shanahan said.

"John Howard's friendly advisors are all saying he needs more time before the election," Shanahan wrote in a comment piece.

"The argument for more time is built on the perfectly reasonable view, expressed by Howard himself, that the coalition faces annihilation if polling does not improve," he said.

Labor frontbencher Nicola Roxon said the poll reflected community opinion.

"There is a hunger for change in the community," she told ABC.
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