After months of campaigning on domestic issues with the upcoming federal election, the focus is now on Australia's place on the world stage.

Prime Minister John Howard believes the involvement of the United States is critical to the stability of the Asia-Pacific region and supports the deployment of Australian troops to Iraq.

In contrast Opposition leader Kevin Rudd, while a supporter of the of the US alliance, is at odds with Mr Bush over keeping troops in Iraq. Could this stance be a vote wiinner?