Neos Kosmos’ online readers declared the first debate between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and leader of the opposition Tony Abbott more or less a draw. Having time to be more reflective and more distant from the actual event, 53 per cent of our respondents thought that Kevin Rudd won, while 47 per cent of voters thought Tony Abbott won – a very close result indeed.
The first leaders’ debate took place in Canberra in the opening week of the election campaign in front of a panel of journalists, and was adjudicated by major media organisations and political analysts.
It made a greater impression on the electorate than the second one held in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Most were of the opinion that the first debate ended in a draw, while journalists and media organisations that responded immediately after the end of the debate were of the opinion that Tony Abbott or Kevin Rudd won it by a comfortable margin. Only the readers of The Age, voting almost in ‘real time’, thought the debate between the two leaders ended almost in a draw, with Tony Abbott getting a winners lead of 48 per cent as opposed to Kevin Rudd’s 44 per cent. Last week in our online poll, Neos Kosmos readers were put the question: Who do you think won the first leaders debate of the 2013 Australian election?
This week’s poll question: ‘Do you believe that the outcome of the 2013 Australian election will impact your life? Yes or No?’. Vote now at www.neoskosmos.com