Despite one-third of people believing Prime Minister Tony Abbott is out of touch with voters, support for the Coalition has risen to a four-month high, the latest Newspoll shows.
Support for the Coalition rose three points, while Labor fell three points, the poll published by News Corp showed.
Appearing on Channel Nine’s Today program, Mr Abbott was asked what it felt like “to be alive”.
“You know what it's like to be young and vigorous and at the height of your powers,” he replied.
“That's exactly how I feel.”
Both parties were tied on a primary vote of 38 per cent.
In two-party terms, the Coalition made its single largest fortnightly gain in its 18 months in power, rising to 47 per cent.
The opposition however remains in a commanding two-party-preferred position of 53 per cent. The Greens were unchanged at 12 per cent.
The latest poll also showed 77 per cent of those surveyed consider Mr Abbott arrogant, and only one-third of them believe he is in touch with voters.
Mr Abbott continued to lag behind Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister, 43 to 35 per cent, but the Prime Minister shrugged off the polling.
“There’s a sense in which Prime Ministers are always on probation,” he said.
“… Every day, we perform.”
Mr Abbott also gave an interview on 2GB, where he was told to highlight his achievements by host Alan Jones.
"We'd like you to blow your trumpet and sell that story," Mr Jones said.
"[The public] do want to see a bit of Mr Whippy in you. Ring the bell and let them know what the product is that you're selling."
With AAP.
