Kevin Rudd is about to hit one million followers on Twitter, putting him in the social network's superstar status. The Foreign Minister remains active on the network as he recovers from a heart operation, regularly updating his Twitter audience of 998,000 with musings on foreign policy and his family.
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The New York Times reported recently on a resurgence in Mr Rudd's support in opinion polls to become the ''most popular political leader in the country''.
Mr Rudd, who is about to return to work, told followers this week he was ''pretty good''.
''Long walk this morning by the lake. Jess our daughter is home. Lots of laughs together,'' he wrote.
Jessica Rudd, who is based in Hong Kong, told her 4500 followers yesterday that she was heading to Brisbane.
''Mate's getting hitched. Going to wedding. Lord, I love weddings. Only in town for the weekend. Riverfire!'' she wrote.
In May singer Lady Gaga became the first Twitter user with more than 10 million followers, a first for Twitter as well.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has 124,000 followers and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has 39,000.
A poll this week said Mr Rudd would be the last Labor MP standing in Queensland if an election was held now.
The survey was conducted before the High Court ruling which has prompted another round of speculation about the future of Ms Gillard, who replaced Mr Rudd as Prime Minister one year ago.
Today, United Nations UN chief Ban Ki-moon will drop in on Mr Rudd.
The UN secretary-general is on his way to the Pacific Islands Forum in New Zealand and is also discussing the missions in Afghanistan and East Timor with Ms Gillard.
Mr Rudd and Defence Minister Stephen Smith are to attend the annual AUSMIN talks in Washington in just over a week, when Federal Parliament will be sitting.
Mr Abbott is vowing to deny leave to all Labor MPs when Parliament debates the carbon tax this month.
The legislation is expected to be approved by cabinet on Monday week before being debated by caucus the next day and introduced into the House of Representatives.
However, debate on the Bill is not expected to begin until the following week, when the ministers will have returned to Australia.
Opposition Chief Whip Warren Entsch says the ministers will be given pairs to attend the AUSMIN talks.
''But we expect them [ministers] to be back here to cast a vote.''
