Survey respondents want Kevin Rudd to challenge Julia Gillard again

Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. Source: AFP

ALMOST half of Australia wants Kevin Rudd to have one last crack at the Labor leadership ahead of the September election.

A News Limited online survey of more than 5000 people canvassed their views on what will be a marathon Federal campaign after Julia Gillard announced Australians will go to the polls on September 14.

The extraordinary move to announce a date so early drew speculation it was designed to limit Mr Rudd's ability to challenge - a claim flatly denied by the Prime Minister.  Mr Rudd has also remained silent on the issue so far - pledging only his support for the party this week as he wascaught on camera laying into a tree with a chainsaw.

But 48 per cent of people who responded to the online questionnaire said the former PM should challenge, despite the fact he was the least popular choice for best Prime Minister out of Ms Gillard, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and the Liberal communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull.

Just slightly fewer - 42 per cent - wanted Mr Turnbull to challenge Mr Abbott. Both the 42 per cent and 48 percent are seen as significant numbers.

Mr Rudd, who has dismissed questions on another tilt at the leadership after last year's failed bid, was the best candidate to lead the country in the eyes of just 13 per cent.

Ms Gillard was slightly more popular, scoring 15 per cent of the vote when faced with four possible candidates.

Mr Abbot was overwhelmingly voted the best choice for Prime Minister at 45 per cent, followed by Mr Turnbull, who was chosen by a quarter of people.

Interestingly, 53 per cent of people said they liked elections.

But people are not impressed at the prospect of an eight-month campaign and said their trust in candidates will likely fall because of it.

Almost three quarters said eight months was too long to endure electioneering and only one in 10 said they were more inclined to trust a politician after seeing them on the hustings for so long.

The survey was run over a 24-hour period on Thursday and Friday. 

Survey respondents want Kevin Rudd to challenge Julia Gillard again