Kevin Rudd's rock star-like reception during his visit to the southwestern Sydney seat of Barton has been interrupted by a dissenter shouting "power to Julia!"
Mr Rudd hit the campaign trail in Hurstville on Wednesday surrounded by a crush of people trying to touch him and be photographed with him.
The former prime minister chatted to some of the locals in Mandarin and paid no attention to the woman who walked past the throng and expressed her support for Julia Gillard.
He also ignored a man who shouted "f*** off Kevin Rudd" when he arrived.
It's the latest public appearance by Mr Rudd, who has been mobbed by adoring locals in recent visits to electorates, sparking renewed speculation of a leadership challenge.
Steve McMahon, the former mayor of Hurstville Council, won preselection for Barton after former attorney-general Robert McClelland announced he would retire at the September 14 poll.
Labor holds Barton with a margin of 6.9 per cent and is clinging to the hope it can retain the seat despite an expected swing across NSW to the Liberals.
Mr McClelland was dumped from the frontbench by Ms Gillard after he supported Mr Rudd in a leadership challenge in early 2012.
Allen Sullivan, 67, told AAP he would like to see Mr Rudd return to the leadership "perhaps some time in the future".
John Pahos, an elderly life-long Labor supporter, said he had a lot of respect for Mr Rudd.
"He's the best," he said during the meet and greet, as Mr Rudd lent his ear to the locals, addressing them as "digger" and "mate".
Mr Rudd shrugged off questions about his decision to wear a blue tie the day after the prime minister used an event in Sydney to warn women their rights would be stripped away by men in blue ties should the coalition win the September election.
"Like most blokes in the country I have no sense of fashion," he said.
"I rely upon (wife) Therese and (daughter) Jessica to buy my ties for me and this is the one that has been packed away for me for this particular occasion.
"Frankly if I had to get rid of all my blue ties I'd lose about a third of them."
Do you have any story leads, photos or videos?
No comments:
Post a Comment