Australia's Howard targets families as poll slides

By Rob Taylor

BRISBANE (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister John Howard made a last-ditch appeal to family voters on Monday as polls showed his conservative government facing near-certain election defeat on Nov. 24 in the wake of interest rate hikes.

Howard, standing in front of an Australian flag and a "go for growth" slogan, formally launched his campaign with a promise of full employment despite gathering international "storm clouds" due to rocketing oil prices and the U.S. sub-prime mortgage meltdown.

"This election is about the future of our great nation, not the past," the 68-year-old veteran told cheering conservative faithful.

But storm clouds hung over Howard's campaign just a fortnight out from the election. The key Newspoll in the Australian newspaper showed the opposition Labor Party widening its year-long lead following last week's central bank interest rate hike, the sixth in three years.

Labor has opened a 10-point lead over Howard's coalition, which has ruled since 1996. The opposition leads 55 percent to 45 percent when preferences are distributed to the two main parties.

If confirmed at the ballot box, Labor would sweep to power with 92 seats in the 150-seat lower house, 32 more than at present, while conservative ranks would be decimated, losing 31, leading election analyst Antony Green said.

Labor leader Kevin Rudd needs to gain just 16 seats to win government. He will officially launch his campaign on Wednesday.