Rudd push out of puff, Gillard going nowhere In disarray: Kevin Rudd's leadership challenge. A third push to reinstall Kevin Rudd as Labor leader was in disarray on Monday evening as it emerged its singular strategy of forcing pro-Gillard ministers to take the initiative and "tap" the Prime Minister on the shoulder had come to nothing. With no plan B, it now looks increasingly likely there will be no change of leader as time for a final showdown runs out. Instead, pressure is intensifying on the former prime minister to back up his camp's faux campaign with a formal challenge as frustrated MPs on both sides of the stand-off come to the realisation that Julia Gillard will not give in. Absolutely confident of her causcus majority: Prime Minister Julia Gillard. While the Labor caucus meets on Tuesday morning, Mr Rudd will not be present as he travels to Sydney to attend the memorial for Hazel Hawke from 1.30pm. Ms Gillard, who will also attend the memorial, offered Mr Rudd a lift in her VIP jet, but he declined, with his office explaining he had already made travel arrangements. As the destructive stalemate enters its presumed end-game in the last days of the 43rd Parliament, an uneasy consensus is emerging that it will be up to Mr Rudd to force a spill through demonstrating overwhelming support in the 102-member caucus. Time for resolution: Climate Change Minister Greg Combet. But with the cabinet and her backbench holding firm, Ms Gillard is standing her ground. The Rudd camp, which continues to say its man must be drafted, is uncertain of its next move, unable even to say if he would nominate in a ballot, or do as he did in March and sit on his hands. Ms Gillard affirmed on Monday that she was "absolutely" confident of her caucus majority, insisting the leadership question had been dealt with in March. But others acting on her behalf taunted Mr Rudd to end the destabilisation by either launching a formal challenge or pulling back. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the leadership needed to be settled this week. "We certainly can't have this go on," he told Radio National. Kevin Rudd has to decide whether he's a candidate or not and then do something about it. The ball's in Kevin Rudd's court. With the internal contest increasingly being fought on the airwaves, a Rudd supporter, NSW MP Stephen Jones, warned that the party faced a "thumping" and should hold a ballot this week. The sense of desperation was added to by the latest national poll showing Labor's primary vote dipping below 30 per cent, and Ms Gillard's popularity losing more ground to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Pro-Rudd forces continue to discuss the idea of a senior delegation of ministers calling on Ms Gillard to stand down "for the good of the party," but privately strategists admit they are out of ideas.