Question: Examine the following article from the Sydney Morning Herald:

Opinion poll boosts 'Lazarus' Howard

By Nick Squires in Sydney

Last Updated 2•34am BST 19/09/2007

Australia’s beleaguered Prime Minister John Howard clawed background from the opposition yesterday, narrowing the Labor Party’s lead from 18 points to 10. With an election due within weeks, the results of a new opinion poll were much needed boost for Mr. Howard who after losing the party leadership in the 1989, as being as likely as "Lazarus with a triple bypass".

The News poll survey found that the Labour Party's lead over the government had narrowed to 55-45 from 59-41. Despite the modest swing back towards the government, Mr. Howard, 68, would still face a humiliating defeat if the results translated to the ballot box. He has yet to nominate a date for the election but has promised it will be held well before Christmas. The poll results extinguished any lingering doubts about Mr. Howard's leadership of the Liberal Party.

The election has wider implications because Mr. Howard has been a key ally to the United States in Iraq but opposition Labour Party leader, Kevin Rudd, has pledged to withdraw the country's 550 troops.

Are you convinced that John Howard's government is becoming more popular? What additional information would you need to draw that conclusion?