Jessica Rudd says empathy, not anger drives her father

JESSICA Rudd has defended her father against people who "sledge him", saying the former prime minister is driven by "compassion", not anger.

JESSICA Rudd has defended her father against people who "sledge him", saying the former prime minister is driven by "compassion", not anger.

Kevin Rudd's daughter has penned a 1300-word tribute to her father for the latest issue of Madison magazine, to be published today, in which she describes him as an empathetic, supportive and loving parent.

The article, which was started before Mr Rudd was removed as Labor leader in June, but was updated to take in her views on the event, comes as the former PM faces criticism in Labor circles for allegedly destabilising Julia Gillard's election campaign.

In a move that will ensure Mr Rudd steals some of the limelight from the PM in the final week of the campaign, Ms Rudd has brought forward the launch of her debut novel, Campaign Ruby, to August 16, five days before polling day and the same day as the ALP's campaign launch, both in Brisbane.

The book was originally due to be launched at the end of the month. A spokeswoman for Text Publishing said the date had been brought forward, before the poll, for "commercial" reasons.

In the Madison article, Ms Rudd writes that she was "never prouder" of her father than when she stood next to him during his final news conference after losing the Labor leadership.

"He stood at the lectern as he did on this first day in the job: a compassionate statesman," she writes. "I wanted to hold it together for him. Mum said I wouldn't cry if I used the tip of my tongue to tickle the roof of my mouth, which was good in theory. She was strong, propelling him forward. I lost it."

Ms Rudd says she is angered by criticism of her father, writing that "when people sledge him, I want to sledge them".

"I understand it's just the nature of public life, but it's hard to see someone you love who has worked their guts out for something get cut down," she writes.

Ms Rudd told the magazine the question she was most often asked of her father was: "Is your dad really driven by anger?"

"When we lose the Ashes to England because of a dropped catch, he gets filthy furious," she wrote in an emailed response. "But no, that's not what drives him. He's driven by compassion."

The change of launch date for Campaign Ruby will ensure maximum publicity for the book, although some senior Labor sources believe it could be an attempt by Mr Rudd to provide a distraction to damage Ms Gillard.

The book, printed before Mr Rudd's removal, proved extraordinarily prescient. Ms Rudd writes about an incumbent PM rolled by his deputy -- a woman -- who becomes the nation's first female PM.

If Mr Rudd follows doctors' orders and rests for two weeks after last Friday's gall bladder surgery, it could be his first public appearance since he went into hospital.