Fed: ALP in front according to opinion poll

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2004
Fed: ALP in front according to opinion poll

SYDNEY, Feb 15 AAP - The latest opinion polls have confirmed that Labor under Mark
Latham would win an election if it were held tomorrow.

The Sun-Herald newspaper today reported the latest Morgan Poll, taken earlier this
month, put Labor in a landslide position with 56.5 per cent of the vote on a two-party-preferred
basis, compared with the coalition's 43.5 per cent.

Primary support for the ALP increased by four per cent to 48 per cent while the coalition
lost one per cent to settle at 38 per cent.

But government insiders believe the prime minister's backflip last week on MP perks
would help reverse the trend, the article said.

Meanwhile, support for NSW Opposition leader John Brogden had risen in the wake of
the state government's problems including health and transport.

But the Carr government would still comfortably win an election.

The McNair ingenuity poll, commissioned by The Sunday Telegraph, shows a two per cent
swing to the coalition in the two-party-preferred vote.

Primary support for the Liberal and National parties had risen to 41 per cent, seven
per cent higher than at the March 2003 election.

But the poll also found NSW Labor would comfortably win an election with 54 per cent
of the two-party-preferred vote.

Premier Bob Carr's popularity had risen slightly from 56 to 58 per cent since March
2002 but support for Mr Brogden as preferred leader rose by six per cent over the same
period.

AAP ved/sjb/jnb

KEYWORD: POLLS

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