There is, of course, only one poll that matters. Blah blah. But here’s another one: TV ratings.

On Tuesday night, Peter Costello’s 12th televised budget attracted an average audience of 707,000 viewers nationally to the ABC. Last night, Kevin Rudd’s address in reply averaged 718,000.

That’s 11,000 people across 150 electorates. Proof that the campaign is far from done and dusted? Or just sign of the enduring popularity of Seven’s It Takes Two in the conservative heartland? One or the other.