Blame it on the jet lag but Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd further fuelled speculations of a Labor leadership struggle when he quipped upon his return from Washington that he is a "very happy little vegemite being Prime Minister."

Almost immediately though, the former Prime Minister vehemently denied that there was more to the innocent words he had uttered during an interview with ABC as he declared that his current role as the premier representative of Australia to the international community makes him somewhat fulfilled.

Rudd said that he is supportive of the leadership of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who lately has been dealing with torrents of unverified talks that her tenure is in danger of ending abruptly as her plummeting popularity unsettles the Australian Labor Party (ALP).

In the absence of any indications that Rudd might be preparing to challenge Ms Gillard soon and re-assume the post that he was forced to relinquish last year, observers are resorting to read between the lines of statements issued by Labor stalwarts on the matter.

Or interpret the body language of the Foreign Minister, who inarguably poses the biggest threat to Ms Gillard's uncertain stay on the Lodge.

Experts have noted that apart from feigning the effects of travel fatigue, Rudd seemed oblivious that he had forgotten to refer to his boss by her name, which they said could signal some form of underlying animosity between the two.

Just days ago, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott declared that he is expecting the impending return of Rudd as Labor's top honcho but key Labor leaders immediately dismissed the suggestion as rubbish desperately peddled by the Liberals.

Rudd himself had openly declared that a fresh shot for the job he lost last year does not excite him at all and even called on the public to ease down on all the rumours about his political plans.

Observers, however, were quick to remind that weeks have passed since Rudd issued assurances that he was happy being the country's Foreign Minister and his latest slip, they stressed, only underscored the brewing tension with the ALP.

As Ms Gillard continues to ward off speculations, her latest poll numbers only serve more worries as the beleaguered leader faces a new reality that showed her support among women voters have significantly decreased since the last election.

From the 52 percent Ms Gillard had enjoyed among the country's female voters during the national election last year, the numbers slipped to 47 percent and according to The Australian, that level now stands at 39 percent.

Abbott, on the other hand, now enjoys popular support among women and could easily take away the PM post from the Labor party unless, experts said, Rudd replaces Ms Gillard as the ALP leader.

RELATED STORIES