She's one of his most popular ministers but Prime Minister Tony Abbott isn't about to anoint Julie Bishop as his heir apparent.
The foreign minister's popularity has taken off in the past five months and has now drawn level with Mr Abbott as preferred Liberal leader, scoring 20 per cent support each in the latest Fairfax Ipsos poll.
Asked by a journalist in Sydney if Ms Bishop is now his heir apparent, Mr Abbott said: "I think Julie is my stellar colleague.
"I think that's what she is, along with Malcolm Turnbull, Joe Hockey, Scott Morrison and the rest of the team."
Former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull is still the most popular among respondents with 35 per cent support.
Treasurer Joe Hockey's support is draining after the government's tough budget, dipping from 11 per cent in July to eight per cent now.
But he is still preferred above Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, who has just two per cent of the vote.
Meanwhile, federal Labor has recorded its best Newspoll result in more than three months.
According to the poll, conducted for The Australian last weekend, Labor's primary vote rose two points in the last two weeks to 36 per cent - its highest level of support in three and a half months.
Coalition support remained steady at 38 per cent, while the Greens dropped one point to 13 per cent.
Independents and minor parties also fell one point, now sitting at 13 per cent.
The poll gives Labor its 13th consecutive lead over the coalition in two-party-preferred terms.
