Though the popularity of Australian Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard is increasing, according to a new poll, but the Coalition could still win in a landslide if an election was held today.

The latest Nielsen poll published today showed that Ms Gillard was now closing gap and catching up with Mr Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister, with each leader on 45 per cent.

The poll also represents a three-point rise in Ms Gillard’s preferred PM rating, according to ABC report.

Her approval rating is up 6 percentage points to 39 per cent, while Mr Abbott’s approval has remained steady at 41 per cent.

On a two-party preferred basis, the Coalition leads Labor 55 to 45 per cent, but the gap has closed four points in the past month. Fifty-three per cent of those polled support the mining tax, while 38 per cent are opposed to it.

The poll of 1,400 people was conducted between Thursday and Saturday.

Ms Gillard’s approval rating was up since the last poll in October and her disapproval rating is down five points to 57 per cent. Her opponent Mr Abbot’s disapproval rating stood at 54 per cent.

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