Rudd - from outcast to saviour

Even though former Australian premier Kevin Rudd is back in Prime Minister Julia Gillard's camp, it would appear that the Government is entering the last two weeks of the campaign still as the underdog but with its chances increasing by the day.

In some ways, Labor has not made enough capital of the state of the economy to its advantage. Treasurer Wayne Swan had put it succinctly. In the last couple of years, Australia had achieved much that is remarkable which Australians can be proud of, he had said. For one thing, adroit management of the economy had meant that a recession had been avoided while unemployment had been kept to a low 5.1 per cent. In an economic environment where many countries were just trying to keep afloat, Australia had created 350,000 jobs in the past year while keeping inflation moderating at 2.7 per cent.

So, therein may lie the weakness of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's campaign. While having a great story to tell about the Australian economy, she nevertheless had not been able to make the economy the centre of her election campaign.

Perhaps, Labor has still to come to terms with the axeing of Rudd as Prime Minister. It is not clear if an acceptable explanation has been given to party faithfuls, but even if it had, till today no cogent explanation has been given to a sceptical public still confused by the need for Rudd's unceremonial removal.

In fact, the main reason for the coup against Rudd has been questioned with Gillard's call to Rudd to return to the national campaign trail. Gillard's elevation to Prime Minister on June 24 was apparently to win the upcoming election that Labor's movers and shakers were convinced was going to slip by Rudd. And in line with this strategy, Gillard quickly called for elections to be held on August 21.

But after an brief period basking in the warmth of the people's support, she had to face a resurgent rival Tony Abbott's sudden and sharp surge in popularity, Gillard did not have much choice now but to swallow the bitter pill and appeal to the man whom she overthrew to return to the national campaign trail not only to save Labor but her prime ministership as well. And Rudd returned in style.

His approach has been so very much prime ministerial, in contrast to Gillard, as he spoke passionately about the need to halt Abbott from wrecking the policy directions that Labor has taken and which have been proven right. Well, there are after all his directions.

Now, in a matter of weeks, after having been in the wilderness for some 40 days, Rudd had gone from being an outcast to becoming Labor's possible saviour, especially in view of the many bungles Gillard's government has been making in its campaigns.

Gillard is now in a little bit of a dilemma. She has said that she is full of vim, vigour and fight, and clearly she wants to give Abbott a thumping but she also wants to show Rudd who is the boss. Of course, Labor is fully backing Gillard but no one doubts that Rudd will ask and get his prize for his role in ensuring a Labor win and most certainly will demand a top seat in the cabinet.

If this happens, then the Gillard-Rudd partnership will enter an era where trust has been shattered and any re-elected government is bound to be fragile and weakened.