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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Rudd apology for strip club visit | Rudd apology for strip club visit |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The leader of Australia's opposition Labor Party has apologised for visiting a strip club in New York while representing his country at the UN. | The leader of Australia's opposition Labor Party has apologised for visiting a strip club in New York while representing his country at the UN. |
| Kevin Rudd went to the club in Manhattan in September 2003 during a visit to the city as a UN observer. | Kevin Rudd went to the club in Manhattan in September 2003 during a visit to the city as a UN observer. |
| Mr Rudd has released a statement apologising for any offence which his actions may have caused. | Mr Rudd has released a statement apologising for any offence which his actions may have caused. |
| He is currently riding high in the polls, with a national election expected before the end of the year. | He is currently riding high in the polls, with a national election expected before the end of the year. |
| A bookish intellectual with a strong Christian faith, Kevin Rudd has a slightly dull, even nerdy public persona. | A bookish intellectual with a strong Christian faith, Kevin Rudd has a slightly dull, even nerdy public persona. |
| So many Australians will have been surprised to read of his drunken, late-night visit to a New York strip club. | So many Australians will have been surprised to read of his drunken, late-night visit to a New York strip club. |
| Popular figure | Popular figure |
| In September 2003 Mr Rudd had travelled to New York to attend the United Nations as a representative of the Australian government. | In September 2003 Mr Rudd had travelled to New York to attend the United Nations as a representative of the Australian government. |
| During his stay he was out for dinner with a New York-based journalist and a fellow Labor Party MP, after which they went on to a gentleman's club called Scores. | During his stay he was out for dinner with a New York-based journalist and a fellow Labor Party MP, after which they went on to a gentleman's club called Scores. |
| According to the Sunday Telegraph - one of Australia's leading tabloids - Mr Rudd was then asked to leave because of inappropriate behaviour. | According to the Sunday Telegraph - one of Australia's leading tabloids - Mr Rudd was then asked to leave because of inappropriate behaviour. |
| In a statement released to reporters, the Labor leader has confirmed he visited the club but cannot recall precisely what happened on the night because he had too much to drink. | In a statement released to reporters, the Labor leader has confirmed he visited the club but cannot recall precisely what happened on the night because he had too much to drink. |
| He apologised if he had caused any offence and said that he told his wife at the time. | He apologised if he had caused any offence and said that he told his wife at the time. |
| Mr Rudd became the Labor leader in December last year and has enjoyed almost stratospheric approval ratings ever since. | Mr Rudd became the Labor leader in December last year and has enjoyed almost stratospheric approval ratings ever since. |
| It is unclear if this revelation will damage his chances of becoming prime minister in the election expected before the end of the year. | It is unclear if this revelation will damage his chances of becoming prime minister in the election expected before the end of the year. |
| But in a country which once elected a champion beer drinker as its prime minister - Labor's Bob Hawke - many think it might actually enhance his chances of success. |