Nelson’s approval rating drops: poll

Support for Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson has slipped back into single figures in the latest opinion poll.

The Newspoll in the Australian newspaper has Dr Nelson’s rating as preferred prime minister down one point to 9 per cent, while Prime Minister Kevin Rudd maintains a massive lead on 72 per cent.

In the two party-preferred stakes, support for the Opposition has jumped four points to 43 per cent, which is the highest rating since Dr Nelson took on the leadership.

The Government has secured 57 per cent of the vote.