Nielsen says Labor boosed by Budget, Newspoll no. UPDATE: Essential no. I am surprised. A Budget like that gives Julia Gillard a boost - or was it her tears? The latest Age/Nielsen poll, taken after Treasurer Wayne Swan's unorthodox no-handouts pre-election budget, has found voters drifting back to Labor, with two-thirds approving of what was supposed to be the most politically risky aspect of the budget, the decision to scrap the generous Howard government baby bonus... On a two-party-preferred basis, the Coalition has a strong lead with 54 per cent of the total vote (down 3 points) compared with the government on 46 per cent (up 3 points). On the other hand, Newspoll notes no real change: While voters were evenly split overall on whether the Treasurer's sixth budget was good or bad for the economy, or would make individuals financially better or worse off, it was high-income earners who gave it the tick and low-income earners who were turned off... There was also the strongest indication yet of a growing belief in the Coalition's economic management, with the highest support in 20 years for the suggestion that the alternative government would have brought down a better budget... Based on preference flows at the last election, the Coalition continues to hold an easy election-winning lead of 56 to 44 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis. Both polls show Gillard closing the preferred PM gap. Essential Media records no change: Labor 45 per cent to the Coalition 55. So on one poll of three, a narrative is built of a Labor comeback. Yet again.