Turnbull’s $1.65 and Nelson’s $2.50
A betting agency has put Malcolm Turnbull at short odds to lead the federal opposition at the next election.
Sportingbet Australia has opened a book on the Liberal leadership for the poll due in 2010 by offering $1.65 for Mr Turnbull, compared with $2.50 for Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson.
The opposition treasury spokesman has fared better in opinion polls than Dr Nelson, whose preferred prime minister rating slipped into single figures last month.
“Nelson is sitting about as comfortably as a cat on a hot tin roof and the punters are circling,” Sportingbet chief executive Michael Sullivan said.
Mr Sullivan predicted Dr Nelson’s grip on the leadership would slip further if there were poor results in by-elections expected when senior members of the former coalition government resigned.
“The odds are stacked against him, although his current price and position on the betting ladder acknowledge his influence within the Party and his tenacity,” Mr Sullivan said.
Even though being one of the most likely to leave politics, former treasurer Peter Costello was third-ranked in the betting at $4.50.
“Despite all the resignation talk, you would have to bet that if he wanted it, the Liberal leadership would be his for the taking,” Mr Sullivan said.
Sportingbet is paying $7 for deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop, $21 for health spokesman Joe Hockey and $34 for indigenous affairs spokesman Tony Abbott.
source:smh.com.au
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