Rudd's popularity strong

Support for Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is at near record levels a year from fresh elections, and with speculation of an early snap poll, despite rising unemployment and the threat of higher interest rates.

Backing for Rudd's centre-left Labor was steady at 55 points, well clear of opposition conservatives on 45 points, a Newspoll in the Australian newspaper showed yesterday.

But support for Rudd's performance lifted 3 points to 64 per cent after a fortnight in which GDP growth lifted by a stronger-than-expected 0.6 per cent in the June quarter.