Rudd campaigning on Gillard's turf

Kevin Rudd's itinery is increasingly busy. Picture: Tony Gough Source: News Limited

Kevin Rudd arrives at Noble Park for a Labor Party fundraiser. Picture: Tony Gough Source: News Limited

KEVIN Rudd last night took his travelling roadshow to Melbourne, playing the star attraction at a fundraiser for one of his top Labor backers.

In the latest stop in an increasingly busy itinerary, the Queensland backbencher ate with Labor MP Alan Griffin and about 200 supporters at a dinner in Mr Griffin's electorate of Bruce.

The $75-a-head private function, at an undisclosed location in the southwestern suburb of Noble Park, was sold out and expected to include a speech from Mr Rudd.

Mr Griffin said Mr Rudd had agreed to be at the event months ago and he saw nothing unusual about his attendance so far from his Brisbane elctorate.

"He is a popular public figure and a former prime minister," Mr Griffin said.

Mr Rudd's latest event - in Prime Minister Julia Gillard's home state - came as she was forced to hose down more damaging opinion polls while visiting Mr Rudd's Queensland turf to spruik her industry package.

After Mr Rudd's increasingly cold references to leadership talk - from taking a cold shower, to an ice bath, to cryogenic freezing - Ms Gillard hammed it up for the cameras in a coldroom at Primo Smallgoods in a Brisbane marginal seat.

The PM would not comment on a Nielsen poll showing Labor's primary vote sliding back to 30 per cent.

"I don't do commentary on opinion polls," she said.

But veteran MP Simon Crean said: "It's a wake-up call isn't it? You can't gild the lily."

Meanwhile, Mr Rudd has been forced to ease jumpy ALP troops in his Griffith electorate over concerns he has not yet ordered new campaign signs, despite being short on supplies.

One campaign worker said they felt the local campaign was holding off buying more "Kevin For Griffith" signs because they would get free "Kevin For Australia" signs from national office if he became PM again.

Mr Rudd's spokesman denied the claim, but confirmed the shortage.

"In the last couple of weeks, an increased number of volunteers and a few `borrowed' corflutes (signs) has depleted our supply," he said.

"Like most local campaigns across Australia, the ALP Griffith campaign will order new signs in coming months."

Australian Workers Union boss Paul Howes yesterday said he had sworn off opinion polls and admitted he was wrong to be caught on them at the time he helped remove Mr Rudd as leader.

"Absolutely. You just heard me eat humble pie," Mr Howes said.

"I regret that I was one of the people that used to engage in this constant useless chatter on various opinion and chat shows around the country.

"I am sick of it, I am not doing it any more."

JUST A QLD BACKBENCHER

Tuesday - Interview Sky News about the mining tax

Wednesday - Reconciliation Breakfast in Adelaide, Canberra dinner for departing MP Robert McClelland with Simon Crean

Thursday - On Valentine's Day, tweets: "Roses are red, violets are blue. If you don't have a date, Question Time starts at 2 :)" Liberals send him chocolate roses during question time.

Friday - Sunrise spot and also ABC24 interview

Sunday - Sky News Australian Agenda interview. Newspaper column in Sunday Telegraph talking about his family.

Yesterday - ALP fundraising dinner in Melbourne

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