Howard

Has lost Cabinet supportEmbattled Prime Minister, John Howard, remains isolated - with no significant support from his colleagues and only fear of election annihilation from him fellow MP's saving his leadership ahead of the imminent election.

Kevin Rudd is winning support from voters who traditionally vote Labor at a State level but vote Coalition at the Federal level.

The new poll conducted on Wednesday and Thursday evenings found that 82 per cent of Quensland ALP supporters were satisfied with Mr Rudd's performance.

This means he is starting to win over key voters in Queensland who traditionally vote for Labor Premier Peter Beattie but back Mr Howard federally.

This is a significant change to the traditional voting pattern which has seen Howard able to gather support from voters who balance their vote between Labor at a state level and the Coalition at a federal level.

US President George W Bush has given the Prime Minister a detailed briefing on his latest plan for Iraq.

President Bush rang John Howard this morning and the two leaders spoke for about 20 minutes.

President Bush said he had already had a conversation with the Iraqi Prime Minister about the new plan, and gave Mr Howard an assessment of the current situation in Iraq.

The US President is expected to outline an increase of 20,000 troops as part of his new Iraq strategy which will be revealed tomorrow.

Two of Australia's media heavyweights stunned guests with a fiery exchange over the AFL rights on the lawns of Kirribilli House during the Prime Minister's Christmas party on Friday night.

PBL chief James Packer and Channel Seven boss David Leckie engaged in a finger-pointing, expletive-laden exchange as Mr Howard and his wife, Janette, mingled in the exclusive crowd.