Federal Liberal MPs, bitterly divided a month ago, are buoyed to see Malcolm Turnbull streets ahead of Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister.
But they're more reserved about the neck-and-neck race between the coalition and Labor in the latest Newspoll, a month after Mr Turnbull toppled Tony Abbott as Liberal leader.
Cabinet minister Simon Birmingham told Sky News he feels the electorate has embraced Mr Turnbull's optimism for the nation, which has translated to business confidence.
Nearly two out of three respondents to the poll believe the Liberal Party did the right thing in ditching Mr Abbott.
Even coalition voters backed the decision, 56-36 per cent.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Liberal senator Chris Back said it had been an "interesting transition" to Mr Turnbull, praising the new prime minister for reaching out to Abbott supporters.
"We move on in this game," he told reporters.
Losing the party leadership in 2009 because of a lack of consultation with colleagues was a lesson Mr Turnbull did not forgot in a hurry, Senator Back said.
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said the 50-50 result for a prime minister who replaced an unpopular leader was a poor outcome for the coalition.
"The honeymoon is over baby" he told reporters.
