“All talk and no action” in the words of Tony Abbott, aptly describes Rudd. The Coalition is now 10 points behind the Government on 2PP. Abbott on Nelson :

“I don’t think anyone who’s worked closely with Brendan Nelson over the last six months could fail to be impressed,” he told. “Because he’s worked incredibly hard and I think he’s made gutsy calls on a few key issues and I think people will come round.”

While Nelson’s approval rating is below that of Rudd, by a long way, he is making in roads into Rudd’s popularity and people are moving into the undecided camp before they commit to supporting Nelson. I’d say Nelson has to November to really shake things up further, to avoid a leadership challenge. The key battleground issue should be opposing a carbon trade system, by explaining to people it will have no measurable impact on the climate, but will cost businesses and consumers billions of dollars. Dollars that the government will pocket for no clear fiscal outcome. This from Access Economics:

Mr Richardson, director of economic consultants Access Economics, said many people still did not get the concept of an emissions trading scheme and much of the pressure on politicians was wrong-headed. “The whole idea of carbon pricing is that if it doesn’t hurt it won’t work,” he told Canberra ABC radio today.

In other words: “you bunch of peasants, the lady of the lake has spoken so just learn to cop it sweat while the rest of us make millions out of the climate change agenda.”