Australian PM meets ousted rival; poll predicts loss

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard met ousted predecessor Kevin Rudd yesterday to bolster a flagging campaign as a new poll predicted she would lose a general election in two weeks' time.
The meeting between Gillard and her former boss, the first since she forced him from office in a leadership coup in June, took place under tight security at federal government offices in Brisbane, capital of Rudd's home state of Queensland.
Gillard called the election after replacing Rudd in a coup within their Labor Party on June 24.
Labor's poll-winning lead in opinion surveys has narrowed since the election call. The latest survey showed the party facing defeat in the Aug 21 contest to opposition leader Tony Abbot's conservative coalition.
Media access was restricted at Saturday's carefully choreographed meeting and no questions were permitted. Television pictures showed both politicians looking strained as they huddled around a map with advisers as if discussing election strategy.
Gillard later told reporters the two would not appear together during the election run-up, but Rudd would campaign for the government's re-election.
"What Kevin and I discussed was him actively campaigning," she told reporters. "That's what he wants to do."
Abbott dubbed the meeting a "soap opera" as he prepared for his official campaign launch on today.
"It's a riveting drama," he told a news conference. "But I don't think the public want a drama from their politicians. I think they want good government from their politicians."
After a strong start to the campaign, Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, has faced damaging leaks, party infighting and constant speculation about Rudd's position.
Polls suggest Rudd's removal has damaged the government's position in Queensland, a key mining state with several marginal seats. Polls suggest it could fall to the opposition.
One of Labor's election planks is the introduction of a 30 percent tax on iron ore and coal mining -- a proposal the opposition has vowed to abandon if elected.