Nielsen Poll reveals voters prefer Rudd

The majority of voters have backed Kevin Rudd as the preferred Labor leader in a new poll, but don't necessarily think the party should change captains.

A Nielsen Poll, published in Fairfax newspapers on Saturday, revealed that 58 per cent of people preferred the former Foreign Minister as Labor leader, compared to 34 per cent who supported Ms Gillard.

But despite Mr Rudd's popularity, voters said they still weren't sure if a change of leader was a good idea.

Forty-eight per cent said the Labor party should swap leaders, while 47 per cent said they should stay with Ms Gillard.

Despite Labor airing its dirty laundry, its primary vote has crept up to 34 per cent, its highest since November 2010.

Meanwhile, the coalition remains steady on 44 per cent and leads Labor on a two-party-preferred basis by 53-to-47 per cent.

Ms Gillard's approval rating falling has fallen four points to 36 per cent, with disapproval of her performance rising two points to 56 per cent.

She remains virtually equal with Mr Abbott as preferred prime minister, rating 46 per cent to his 47 per cent.

The Nielsen poll reflects the sentiments of another two polls printed on Saturday.

In the latest Newspoll published by News Limited, 53 per cent of people backed Mr Rudd as the best person to lead the Labor Party, while 30 per cent put their vote behind Ms Gillard.

Similarly, in a poll in the Herald Sun, 52 per cent of voters want Mr Rudd as leader, compared with 26 per cent who want Ms Gillard to keep the job.

The Nielsen poll also found voters would overwhelmingly prefer Mr Rudd as prime minister, compared to Mr Abbott, the Financial Review reported.

Fifty-eight per cent of those polled preferred Mr Rudd in a head-to-head contest, against 38 per cent for Mr Abbott.