Anthony Albanese is forced to DELETE tweet of his dog after HUGE blunder as he emerges from isolation and straight into an epic Ally Langdon smackdown for talking about the rising cost of LETTUCE

• e-mail

Anthony Albanese's first day back on the campaign trail has been marred by a Twitter blunder and a live television smackdown by Today Show host Ally Langdon. 

The Labor leader shared a picture of his beloved cavoodle, Toto, watching on as he did a series of live crosses to the ABC and the Nine Network's Today Show on Friday morning. 

However, the picture was swiftly deleted from social media as it clearly showed the wannabe prime minister's phone number on the dog's collar.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Labor for comment over the deleted tweet.

It comes as the Labor leader emerged from isolation after spending the last week isolating at home with the virus - but if he thought he was in for an easy ride with the TV hosts, he was sorely mistaken. 

Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon grilled the Opposition leader on their program on Friday

The Labor leader later uploaded a photo to Twitter of his adorable dog Toto while doing a live cross with ABC, which was then swiftly deleted

Mr Albanese was grilled on Friday morning about the rising cost of living as inflation hits a 21-year high at 5.1 per cent. 

The Opposition Leader said he had been doing some online shopping in quarantine and noted the cost of an iceberg lettuce is now $5.50.

He was abruptly interrupted by Today co-host Allison Langdon. 'I don't think people want to hear politicians telling us what the problem is anymore,' she said. 

'People are living this every day.'

'They know what the problem is. They want to know how you are going to fix it!'

Briefly taken off guard, Mr Albanese insists Labor will fix the issue by plan to address wages while taking a swipe at the Coalition government.

'This government won't even put in submissions supporting a wage increase for aged care workers,' he said.

'We will lift productivity through the national reconstruction fund, by having the NBN operate properly to lift the productivity of businesses, and then the way you can place better profits and better wages.'

'The only way you can do that without placing pressure on inflation is by making sure you have those productivity improvements, and we are aiming at that as well.'

Anthony Albanese (pictured) has made his first public appearance in a week since being struck with Covid 

Jason Clare led Labor's election campaign while his leader was in Covid isolation for a week

Mr Albanese doubled down on his attack of the Coalition over living costs on ABC's News Breakfast. 

'We need an economic plan so the economy works for people, not the other way around,' he said.

'This government are happy to claim credit any time something goes right but as soon as things don't, they look to blame someone else and not accept responsibility. 

'We will accept responsibility. We will step up and recognise that people are doing it tough.'

Earlier, the Labor leader took to Twitter to express his delight to be out of quarantine.

'Out of iso and back at it,' he captioned a photo with Toto before sharing a clip of the cavoodle racing around an oval after a week of being cooped up at home.

'I’m not the only one excited to be out,' he added.

It comes amid murmurs that Mr Albanese was somewhat upstaged by his own frontbenchers while off sick. 

Campaign spokesman Jason Clare impressed Labor voters and commentators with his strong performance in front of the cameras while Mr Albanese was in isolation.  

Mr Albanese will fly to Perth later on Friday ahead of the official launch of Labor's campaign on Sunday. 

An hour after his Today show appearance, Anthony Albanese did a TV live cross with ABC's News Breakfast as his beloved cavoodle Toto watched on

The Labor leader was forced to delete the photo which showed his personal photo number on Toto's dog tag

He told the Today show  he feels 'terrific' after the virus knocked him around. However, he said he isn't in a rush to make up for lost time just three weeks out from the May 21 election.

'It just means being sensible. So, it means if I feel really tired, have a rest,' he said.

'It means doing, perhaps, less things during the day. 

'But I expect and the doctors' advice is I'll get better each day and certainly today I feel terrific this morning, and I feel better than I did yesterday and yesterday I felt better than I did the day before. That's what happens.'

Anthony Albanese says his government to address the soaring costs of living if Labor is elected on May 21

He's made Labor voters weak at the knees with Anthony Albanese stuck in the sick bay - but here's why the odds of Jason Clare becoming the party's next PM are VERY long

By Charlie Moore, Political Reporter for Daily Mail Australia

Jason Clare has received lavish praise yet again after another impressive media performance - but the odds of him one day becoming Prime Minister are stacked against him.

The frontbench Labor MP made headlines last week for his impeccable communication skills in daily press conferences, with many supporters wishing he was leader instead of Anthony Albanese.

The cries for him to take over stepped up again on Thursday after he expertly handled a lively media pack and prompted laughter with a witty joke at the expense of Liberal minister Alan Tudge.

'I don't think Scooby-doo could find Alan Tudge at the moment,' he said as Mr Tudge remains away from the limelight after being cleared of abusing his former staffer. 

Jason Clare is picture with his wife, one of his sons and former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating

Twitter went into meltdown once again, with supporters and journalists heaping praise on the 50-year-old father of two from western Sydney.

'Loving Jason Clare's media conferences so much,' one user wrote. 

'Jason Clare is on fire,' said another who praised his 'wit and humour'. 

Mr Clare has also been described as handsome, and even Mr Albanese admitted: 'Jason Clare is certainly better looking than I am. There is no question about that.'

But despite his strong performances, the odds of Mr Clare becoming the next Labor leader are long.

Tanya Plibersek is favourite at $2.10 followed by Jim Chalmers at $3.75, Kristina Keneally at $6.50 and then Mr Clare at $8, according to Sportsbet.

If he wanted to become leader in the event that Labor loses and Mr Albanese resigns, Mr Clare would likely face a messy factional struggle.

As a member of the right faction of the NSW division he may have to see off challenges from Shadow Energy Minister Chris Bowen or Shadow Attorney-General Tony Burke who are in the same faction.

And then he would be up against Tanya Plibersek who is a leading figure in the NSW Left faction - even before challengers from other states like Mr Chalmers and Richard Marles are considered.

Jason Clare has received lavish praise yet again after another impressive media performance - but the odds of him becoming Prime Minister are stacked against him

Ever since he came to Parliament in 2007, Mr Clare has played down his desire to become leader and those close to him say he is focussed on being a good MP and father.

Mr Clare told Sky News in 2014: 'I might be touted but I have no desire to do that job at all' and revealed his 'dream job' would be minister for education. 

'For me I feel like I am part of the team and not the leader of the team,' he said.

However, Labor sources speaking on the condition of anonymity told Daily Mail Australia that him playing down his ambitions could simply be a smart strategy to win over voters.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern played down her ambitions before she became Labour Party leader seven weeks before the 2017 election.

Other Labor sources said Mr Clare's excellent performances have put him front and centre of his colleagues' minds as a future leadership candidate.

But right now Mr Clare is focussed on helping Mr Albanese kick out Scott Morrison.

Asked last week why he was not in charge, he replied: 'The short answer is Anthony Albanese is the leader this country desperately needs.'