I'm not clear how this works. If a 'spill' is called by labor to vote on the leadership is Kevin Rudd obliged to contest ? Is he able to challenge at a time of his coosing ?
Thanks for your help.

He won't challenge if he doesn't have the numbers
He won't stand if a spill is called without the numbers
HE WILL go to the backbench & either white ant from within then resign after the drubbing or wait until he DOES have the numbers a'la Paul Keating.

Either way, which ever of the 3 goes down it won't end the media's games.
Leadership speculation/succession fills newspapers on slow days, look at Howard/Costello, it never ended, was there an agreement, who promised what... Oh I've a crumbled coles docket in my wallet with scribble on the back.