Still, when the going has been as heavy as it has for the embattled Prime Minister, with damaging leaks and escalating leadership chatter, Abbott can be excused for grasping at whatever thin reeds of good news there are to hand.

Not so much that it would make him look desperate, mind you. Or worse, delusional.

There are many theories in Canberra about the Newspoll, which showed the gap narrowing between the ascendant Labor opposition, and the trailing Coalition government, and showed Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's lead as preferred prime minister also narrowing with Abbott ahead on managing the economy and national security.

Sure, three quarters of voters do think Abbott is arrogant, but arrogance itself may perversely be an asset in taming runaway deficits and cracking down hard on home-grown security threats.

One theory is that Abbott's near-death political experience a fortnight ago has made what would ordinarily be quite abstract questions on leadership suddenly seem that little bit less theoretical to voters. Having witnessed Abbott's humiliation at the hands of his colleagues, voters' attention may have turned more critically an examination of the largely untested Shorten. And for some, that raises new doubts about his readiness for high office. It's possible. It would help explain the Coalition's vote bouncing to a four-month high despite its divisions, and Shorten's disapproval rating being higher than at any time since becoming Labor leader.