Federal Labor politicians gather for Caucus FEDERAL Labor politicians from across Australia have gathered in the very trendy and very progressive inner-Sydney suburb of Balmain to give and take power. Kevin Rudd will receive the protection of party rules from being dumped as leader - as he was in 2010 - with a virtually unobtainable 75 per cent threshold put on dismissal. At the same time Rudd will give back to Caucus the power to elect the executive - the right he took from them seven years ago to publicly assert his own stature in the party. More news... RUDD: Asylum seeker deal half-baked NEWMAN: Not impressed by LNP dinner joke Against a backdrop of protesters from the far left and far right - decrying one world government at one end and the PNG asylum seeker plan at the other - MPs alighted from Commonwealth cars to a chorus of complaint. An election is getting closer every day and national secretary George Wright addressed the Caucus, telling them of the turn in Labor's fortunes since the leadership change just three and a half weeks ago. The leader also delivered an upbeat address, telling the meeting Labor could win and was now aiming for that result. While many MPs have misgivings about the leadership protection rule, it was not really contested, although former minister Stephen Conroy expressed some concerns about the inability of Caucus to get rid of a dysfunctional incumbent. It's widely anticipated Rudd will call an election next weekend for August 31, setting off his first campaign as Prime Minister - an opportunity denied him in 2010 when Julia Gillard deposed him just weeks before that election. Labor MPs have reported a good reception to the PNG deal even though doubts are emerging about its practicality. Last week's spending cuts to fund the carbon tax move did not go down so well with MPs in the manufacturing states of South Australia and Victoria reporting negative feedback. One source said the latest marginal seat polling had shown a dip in Labor's revival, which is being used to push for a late August poll - which is now all but certain.