The coalition's election lead over Labor has stretched to six percentage points, according to a new poll, in an apparent confirmation of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's underdog claims.
The poll of 2,908 people conducted by ReachTEL for the Seven Network on Saturday afternoon gives the coalition a 53-47 per cent two-party lead over Labor.
It's the biggest gap since Mr Rudd reclaimed the top job in June.
The ALP's primary vote has fallen by more than half a point to 36.9 per cent, while the coalition has jumped 1.2 to 46.9 per cent, according to the poll.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott now enjoys a six percentage point lead as preferred prime minister with 53 per cent over Mr Rudd's 47 per cent.
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Mr Abbott could have female voters to thank for the lift - women now favour Mr Abbott over Mr Rudd by 51 percentage points to 49.
On the campaign trail in Tasmania this weekend, Mr Rudd acknowledged the challenge faced by his party.
"I don't gild the lily ... we remain the underdog," he told reporters.
Coalition campaign spokesman Christopher Pyne said the latest polls showed Mr Rudd's honeymoon with voters was over.
"The Australian public are starting to remember all the reasons why they wanted him gone in the first place," he told Sky News.
