Poll boosts governing party in tight election campaign

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and two of her predecessors went before cheering crowds as Australia’s governing party launched its re-election campaign today, and an opinion poll showed it leading the opposition in a tight race.

Ms Gillard’s launch in the Queensland state capital Brisbane, only five days before the election on Saturday, was aimed at attracting an 11th hour surge of support for the centre-left Labour Party and deliver it a second three-year term in office.