Rudd revels in rock star welcome Geelong locals have urged former prime minister Kevin Rudd to reclaim the Labor leadership. SEVERAL locals at a Geelong shopping centre have one message for former prime minister Kevin Rudd - we want you back. "Please come back and be our prime minister," one woman said. It's not too late. Another woman also urged Mr Rudd to launch a bid for the prime ministership. "We love you," she said. The Member for Griffith did have some detractors, with one man yelling that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott would win the September election in a landslide. He held a sign reading: "Charity begins at home Kevin. Aussies stop being so naive. So easy going. Mr Rudd posed for photo after photo, with Deakin University students Brad Pattieson and Tom Parker excited to have nabbed a picture with a former prime minister on their phones. Mr Parker, 23, of Belmont, was yet to decide whether he will support Labor or the coalition at the federal poll. But he prefers Mr Rudd over Prime Minister Julia Gillard. "I like his personality better," Mr Parker said. Mr Pattieson, 21, also of Belmont, said education was the most important electoral issue and he would be voting Labor because he did not want to see Mr Abbott running the country. Emma Williams, 29, who works at Cotton On head office in Geelong, was thrilled Mr Rudd had visited. "It's good for the community, him taking the time to come down here," she said. He has taken the time to come and visit - where's Julia? Earlier, Mr Rudd visited Geelong Christian College and signed the arm cast of year seven student Ben Sorbara, who injured himself playing football. When asked to describe how it felt to have Mr Rudd's autograph, he replied: "Awesome."