Rudd is Australia's preferred leader to PM Gillard

Melbourne, Jan.30 (ANI): Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd's popularity has received a new boost with a new poll placing him as Labor's best hope for survival in Australia.

According to the Daily Telegraph, twice as many voters now back Rudd as the nation's preferred leader.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard continues to be shadowed by Rudd, but the voters have rejected any plan by Labor to deliver Bill Shorten as a "spoiler" candidate should Rudd challenge Gillard.

With Gillard struggling to contain the national security scandal gripping her office, a Galaxy poll commissioned by The Daily Telegraph, has revealed that she has failed to make inroads into Rudd's commanding popularity.

The first poll to be published for 2012 has Rudd outpolling Gillard 52 to 30 as preferred leader. (ANI)