SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a shock ballot Wednesday to fight a challenge from his deputy Julia Gillard, raising the prospect of the country's first female head of government. Rudd, who has slumped in the polls as elections loom, emerged from marathon late-night talks with Gillard and other ministers to tell a hastily convened press conference the vote would be held early Thursday. “I was elected by the people of Australia as prime minister of Australia,” Rudd said. “I was elected to do a job, I intend to continue doing that job. I intend to continue doing it to the best of my ability.” Deputy Prime Minister Gillard confirmed she would be a candidate in the vote, which follows a dizzying turn of events for Rudd's government ahead of elections expected this year. “I confirm I will be a candidate in tomorrow's ballot,” Gillard told reporters in a brief statement. Rudd was in pugnacious mood as he faced journalists in Canberra and detailed his achievements in office since the landslide defeat of conservative prime minister John Howard in November 2007. The centre-left leader is facing down Labor Party factions who have become convinced he is a liability for the upcoming elections following a steep drop in personal support. “I was elected by the people of Australia to do a job. I was not elected by the factional leaders of the Australian Labor Party to do a job — but they may be seeking to do a job on me,” he said. Local media said Labor's factions have swung behind Gillard, who also gained the backing of the powerful Australian Workers' Union late Wednesday and is considered favourite in the vote. Rudd has consistently enjoyed strong popularity until recent months, but his support has suddenly fallen away after a series of missteps and a reinvigorated opposition under conservative leader Tony Abbott. The highly rated Gillard has been playing down prospects of a leadership challenge for several weeks after a poll showed her breathing down Rudd's neck as preferred party leader. “There's more chance of me becoming the full-forward for the Dogs (Western Bulldogs Australian Rules football team) than there is any chance of a change in the Labor Party,” she said last month. Rudd's support has crumbled since he shelved a flagship carbon-trading scheme and a free home-insulation scheme, and unveiled a 40 percent tax on the mining industry, which is heavily invested by shareholders and pension funds. The steep and unexpected fall has left the government in danger of becoming the first since before World War II not to secure a second term. Elections are expected later this year. Last week, top officials including Foreign Minister Stephen Smith were forced to scotch rumours of a leadership challenge. In recent days, the opposition targeted Rudd with attack ads portraying him as a cartoon lemon. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100623/ts_afp/australiapoliticsrudd_20100623145555 added by: Stoneyroad
