Who has the power Gillard or Rudd

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan.

Poll

Who would you prefer as leader of the Labor Party?

This poll ended on 27 February 2012.

Julia Gillard

25%

Kevin Rudd

74%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

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WITH news the Federal leadership showdown will be settled next week, the Australian public is eagerly waiting to see who has the numbers in caucus.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard this morning announced a ballot for 10am on Monday, in the wake of Kevin Rudd's leadership challenge.

The announcement has left party faithful and political observers passionately debating who has the numbers to lead.

Five-time Cowper ALP candidate Paul Sekfy, the deputy chair of the NSW Country Labor Party, said he placed his faith in the Australian Labor Party to decide who is best fit to lead the government.

"Only the 103 elected members of parliament and senators in the Federal Labor caucus will have a vote to dissolve the leadership challenge," Mr Sekfy said.

"I was a candidate in 2007 under Kevin Rudd and again in 2010 with Julia as the leader, I believe either way the main thing is that the leadership issue is resolved and the party gets back to the agenda of what is best for the Australian public.

"This stuff distracts from the job at hand, it gives the media food to turn an important issue into a soap opera, but none of us know the dynamics inside the caucus only the 103 inside that pressure cook or bubble in Canberra do.

"Kevin lost the confidence of the caucus and that happens, but let's be clear Julia didn't knife him, he didn't contest the leadership ballot, so who ever is Prime Minister after this ballot, I have full confidence in, and its important there's a move back to the agenda of stopping Tony Abbott from ruining this country.

Mr Sekfy will join nine other Mid North Coast party members at the NSW Country Labor conference in Cessnock this weekend.