You know when there is going to be a leadership bid when everyone says there isn't going to be a leadership bid.
Opinion polls have Rudd as a much preferred prime minister than Ms Gillard but Kevin Rudd must have stepped on a lot of toes in the Australian Labor party. There is not a lot of love oozing from his fellow Labor politicians.
But one wonders if Rudd really wants to get the PMs job back, at least at the moment. He would appear to be on a hiding to nothing, given Labor's polling, of winning the next election. As well, we have the Asylum seeker issue, Carbon Tax and live cattle exports issues. One would think it is time to remain warming the bench till the tryline turns around. But stranger things have happened in politics. Funnily enough Rudd is the type to relish these challenges.
Rudd appears to be a man who holds a very quiet but very deep hurt over his axing so quickly after bringing Labor to power in 2007. He won't forgive and he certainly won't forget.
But, to his credit, and despite all the criticism about his tripping around the world, he has achieved quite a lot in his role of Foreign Minister. His various speeches around the world particularly his moving ANZAC Day address have, in my book at least, marked him as a man of consequence on the world stage. Just look how many Twitter followers he has!
For all his schoolboy looks and squeaky clean, butter would not melt in his mouth facade, Rudd is a fighter.
He grew up tough and he really has an affinity with the grass roots of Labor's heartland. He may be up against it on many fronts but he is certainly not one to give in without a fight at a time and a place of his choosing.
Australian ex-PM denies planning leadership bid - Channel NewsAsia
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