Aussie Mark Latham and the U.S. Howard Dean have lots in common

They seek to talk to "aspirational" or "grassroots" voters with a message of change, promise and new direction.

So far their message and style has made voters sit up and notice. Dean has a double-digit lead over his Democrat rivals and is marginally behind Bush in a head-to-head contest. Latham has more than doubled the Opposition Leader's approval rating and increased Labor's vote.

The first test of this new breed of politician comes next week when Iowa voters select who they want to challenge Bush.

The federal Labor caucus has already decided who will oppose John Howard as he seeks a fourth term later this year.

Will the straight-talking, aggressive ideas men be the choice of voters?

It is just the first of many tests for Dean, who knows if he wins the nomination the real contest begins, as a cashed-up, confident and incumbent President seeks a second term.

Dean, already under attack from his Democrat rivals, is well aware of the capacity of the Republicans to mount a hostile campaign against him.

He's prepared for it as he told Time magazine this week: "We're going to hammer them right back."

It is too early to tell if Dean will survive and ultimately be successful, but this month will deliver some early insights into voter attitudes towards the tough-talking anti-war leader willing to take on the conservative incumbent about his neglect of domestic issues.

The Howard Government's early attacks on Latham suggest it too will be determined to cripple Labor's young upstart leader.

As Latham faces an equally confident and conservative Prime Minister, ironically it may be US politics that Labor's leader follows more closely than ever before.