Howard named best Oz PM since Second World War

Melbourne, Jan.19 (ANI): After receiving a Medal of Freedom from US President George W. Bush, John Howard has been voted Australia's favourite prime minister since World War II.A news.com.au report said that an online poll of 1000 people, conducted last week by Essential Research, found almost a third of people rating Howard as the best prime minister since the 1940s.

Current Prime Minister Kevin Rudd came in second with 20 per cent of the vote.

Labor PM Bob Hawke was third, while his colleagues Paul Keating and Gough Whitlam came in fourth and fifth respectively.

Liberal stalwart Robert Menzies can still pull a crowd - 11 per cent of people rated him No.1.

The poll also found almost a third of people think they will be worse off in a year's time as a result of the global financial crisis.

Overall, most people thought they would be "about the same'', or better off. (ANI)