President Obama's endorsement is proving to be a political kiss of death overseas as well as at home (ask Arlen Specter about the value of an Obama endorsement).

Kevin is somebody [with whom] I probably share as much of a world view as any world leader out there. I find him smart, but humble," he told ABC Television's 7.30 Report.

"He works wonderfully well in multi-lateral settings.

"He's always constructive, incisive. And you know, I think he is, like me, a pragmatic person."

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd made an emotional and ignominious exit, quitting just before the center-left Labor Party was to dump him in an internal ballot and less than three years after a stunning election victory in 2007.

The Rudd government's dramatic slide in support this year sparked fears within the ruling party of an electoral defeat at a poll expected around October.

Democrats must be envying the Australian parliamentary system which enables parties to dump disappointing leaders who are poisoning the party's reputation.