From the ABC

Coalition, Labor neck-and-neck: poll
A new opinion poll shows support for the Federal Coalition and Labor is deadlocked at 50 per cent each.

The Newspoll was conducted before Prime Minister John Howard announced he would lead the Coalition to the next election.

The survey indicates next year's election will be a close-fought battle.

Support for the Coalition has risen 2 per cent, so it is now even with Labor on a two-party preferred basis.

Satisfaction with Mr Howard's performance has risen three points and he has a big lead over Labor leader Kim Beazley as preferred prime minister.

But it was not all bad news for Labor.

Mr Beazley's satisfaction rating edged up and Labor's primary vote was at 40 per cent, considered crucial by some pollsters.

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Watch the little man of stainless-steel porkies — those that never rust because they are so well constructed — pull a black rabbit out of a hat... And we'll all be bananas, wilting in the sunlight... Gees, how much more trauma does this fellow want to inflict upon this nation?