Kevin Rudd unknown to most Americans
By Stefanie Balogh in New York
April 04, 2008 01:17am
Article from: Herald Sun
HE has successfully wooed some of the US's most influential leaders, but to ordinary Americans Kevin Rudd remains an international man of mystery.
Mr Rudd, who left Washington this week for the next leg of his world tour, has failed to filter into US living rooms. He has a long way to go before he becomes as well known in America as Paul Hogan.
It is little wonder. While news of his election and his historic apology to the stolen generation was covered extensively in the US media, Mr Rudd's "getting to know you" visit to Washington and New York has received little coverage.
Cable news networks ran his joint press conference with US President George W. Bush but newspaper coverage has been limited.
The Washington Post has run an article on his visit, and the New York Post highlighted Mr Rudd's commitment to the US-Australian alliance.
A straw poll of 20 Americans in Manhattan's famed Times Square yesterday found no one could correctly give Mr Rudd's full name after they were shown his photo.
Two people knew it was the new PM and one guessed he was the new leader.
But Mr Rudd should feel heartened that only two people could name the former Australian PM, John Howard.
"Why should we know who he is? We don't need to know. He doesn't affect us," said 70-year-old Queens retiree Bob Blakey when quizzed.
Told Mr Rudd was withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq, Mr Blakey said: "So he should. If he wants exposure in the US, you tell him to do something crazy and that way we'll always remember him."
Banker Mark Levy, 65, of Long Island, identified Mr Rudd as Australia's PM but could not give his name.
"I've seen him on TV, on the BBC. He wants to pull the troops out of Iraq," he said.
Emily Lyons, 39, who works in financial services, said she recognised Mr Rudd but she didn't know what his job was and couldn't name him.
Sex educator Barbara Carellas, 45, of Manhattan, was close, identifying him as the Australian PM and calling him "Paul Rudd". "He's just such a vast improvement over the prat you had," she said. She lived in Australia for five years in the 1990s.
Jose Delgado, 36, from the Bronx, guessed that Mr Rudd was the new PM when pressed. Asked to name other Australians, he said: "Paul Hogan. He's the only one I know.
"Crocodile Dundee 1, 2, and 3 are my favourite movies."
Topic: Rudd is no Paul Hogan lol (Read 1126 times)