| Rudd | Abbott | 
 | Difference | |
| Intelligent | 77% | 60% | +17 | |
| Visionary | 43% | 26% | +17 | |
| A capable leader | 58% | 42% | +16 | |
| Good in a crisis | 53% | 38% | +15 | |
| Understands the problems facing Australia | 57% | 45% | +12 | |
| More honest than most politicians | 41% | 30% | +11 | |
| Trustworthy | 42% | 32% | +10 | |
| Hard-working | 70% | 65% | +5 | |
| Erratic | 45% | 45% | – | |
| Superficial | 44% | 47% | -3 | |
| Arrogant | 49% | 54% | -5 | |
| Aggressive | 43% | 50% | -7 | |
| Intolerant | 37% | 46% | -9 | |
| Out of touch with ordinary people | 39% | 50% | -11 | |
| Narrow-minded | 34% | 55% | -21 | 
Compared to Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd is much more likely to be considered intelligent (+17), visionary (+17), a capable leader (+16) and good in a crisis (+15).
Tony Abbott is regarded by more respondents to be narrow-minded (-21) and out of touch with ordinary people (-11).