Gillard ahead of Abbott in latest poll

The latest poll in Australia has ranked the Prime Minister Julia Gillard ahead of the Opposition leader Tony Abbott while support for her Labor Government has dropped by four percentage points. According to ABC report, the first survey of voters since Labor's leadership spill two weeks ago showed that the party's primary vote has fallen from 35 per cent to 31 per cent. That figure takes Labor back to its rating in December's Newspoll and shows February's rise to 35 per cent was a spike in interest rather than the beginning of an upward trend. However, Gillard has again edged in front in the preferred prime minister stakes and is now leading Abbott 39 per cent to 37 per cent - figures that echo the standing of both leaders in January's poll. Abbott held a two-point lead over Gillard in the last poll at the end of February. On a two-party preferred basis, the Coalition leads Labor 53 per cent to 47 per cent, but its primary vote has fallen from 45 per cent to 43 per cent - its lowest level this year. The Greens' support climbed one point to 12 per cent. All of the changes are within the three per cent margin of error.