Peter Costello is an election winner – sorta kinda. Today’s Morgan Poll of federal voting intention has the Coalition in front on a two party preferred basis 52 to 48% and primary support for the Liberal and National Parties is up six points to 45%.

The poll confirms Crikey’s comments from Wednesday that “the events of the last week have directed attention back to the Government and the Prime Minister’s strengths and away from Labor and Kim Beazley’s message on IR”.

It is the first time the Coalition has been ahead in the Morgan Poll in 2PP terms since March.

“Positive media reports received by John Howard following the ‘leadership understanding’ between himself and Peter Costello have given the L-NP an unexpected boost,” says pollster Gary Morgan.

Yet he has a warning, too. “The ‘sleeper’ issue is IR, not Howard v Costello.”