Still undecided

Traditional party ties evaporate, leaving many voters flapping in political wind
Sever Plocker

Something strange happened to the Labor and Likud parties on the way to Election Day: They lost their voters.

In other words, their traditional constituencies have evaporated. This is not so for Kadima; from the outset that party had no traditional or well-defined constituency.

Each of these two smaller parties is currently projected to win about 12 percent of the vote. Who are these 12 percent?

Both Labor and the Likud can be divided in two: six percent are old-school, traditional party supporters, and six percent is an eclectic mix of voters with no real connection to the party and whose political views are not set in stone.

Political refugee camps

And so both parties have become temporary homes for refugees from other parties. They are here until further notice. They are the perennial undecideds, the political wanderers who move from here to there and back again in accordance with their current feelings and thoughts.

The most obvious characteristic of this group – or, more correctly, this collection of vagrants – is the fact that they are unhappy with the current government.

They come from various geographic locations, different ethnic backgrounds, and they are of differing ages. They represent a wide range of Israel's population, who when asked, "What do you like about the party you are planning to vote for? answer simply: Not much, but there's nothing better around.

Familiar shopping

In earlier elections, Israeli voters turned to "their" parties like a store with a familiar sign. They knew what to expect, knew what they were getting and they knew the salespeople.

During this election campaign the old rules have changed. The signs with the old party names haven't meant anything for a long time, and brand names long ago were replaced with imitations.

Voters survey the parties like they are window-shopping: apathetically, they look for sales, and may even squint a little to see a price tag, if there is one at all. Usually there's not.

Revolted by the politicians

Sometimes, power-voters manage to peek into the party shop, but immediately are horrified to see the shop manager. If there is anything holding our political parties back, it is the people standing at their helms. The elected are turning off the electors.

That which the Likud and Labor Parties have lost has gone to Kadima. As a declared centrist party, not right-wing or left, Kadima has become the ideological-less ideology and its lack of a backbone has given it endless flexibility. At a time when Labor and the Likud are trying to maintain some ideological difference, and to present themselves as parties with character, Kadima has no such intentions.

It's a self-service restaurant, in which every diner is left to seek out his own meal. He eats, swallows, and leaves. It's perfect for 21st century folks in a hurry.

No faith in movements

At a time when there is no faith in "movements" and no way to close our eyes and choose the political brand names – because the brands are no longer what they were, and their political homes are no longer what they were – the parties are investing special resources to lure in the wandering voter who happens to have stopped by the store window.

They are trying to catch not only the voter's eye, but their vote as well.

For this reason, a successful ad campaign by any one of the parties could well change the voting plans of a very large segment of the electorate.

Unexpected diplomatic, security or media events could well cause a sudden shift in public winds.

When the political blood ties evaporate also the preference of these waffling voters flaps in the wind.

A month before the elections – things could well change.